Chicken price: Traders ready to go to jail

KOZHIKDE: The poultry traders  in the state are ready to go to jail on the chicken price issue. They have opposed the order of Finance Minister T.M. Thomas to sell chicken at Rs 87 per kg from Monday and said that the rate was fixed without any discussions. Mr  T. Nasarudheen,  state president of  Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana samithi said, “the price was fixed at Rs 87 without considering any criterion.  The statement of the minister that the public would deal with the merchants who sell chicken above the basic price of Rs 87 per kg has created apprehensions,” he said.

Another leader (Hassankoya faction) C.K. Vijayan said,  “the merchants are not particular about selling chicken at a higher price, but they  should get a  basic profit.” One kg of chicken is now priced at Rs 185 to Rs 190. Mr Vijayan added that the merchants would  sell chicken at Rs 80 if they receive it at Rs 70. The  poultry traders have  refused to reduce the price even after a meeting with Animal Husbandry Minister K. Raju and the finance minister on Friday.

Mr Isaac pointed out that the price of chicken had gone up from  Rs 134 per kg to Rs 140 the week before the introduction of  GST. “This is not acceptable. People should step in and resist the move to sell chicken at higher rates,” he  said.  “If  shopkeepers are still unwilling to reduce the prices, people can complain to the government. There will be severe action against such vendors,” Mr Isaac said and added  that squads would be deployed to check such unfair practices.