Potato traders threaten strike from December 3 if West Bengal doesn't allow selling to other States

West Bengal imposes potato selling restrictions, leading to price hikes and border surveillance, sparking trader protests and political tensions.

Potato traders of West Bengal threatened to go on strike on Tuesday (December 3, 2024) if the State government does not lift restrictions on selling to other States.

West Bengal recently re-imposed curbs on selling potatoes to neighbouring states in an effort to control the prices in the local markets. Potatoes are retailing at ₹35-40 per kg in the local markets.

Following the decision of the State government, police have intensified surveillance at inter-State borders to prevent the transportation of potatoes out of the State. This has led to several trucks being stranded at border crossings.

"We will go on strike from Tuesday if the government does not lift the restrictions," Progressive Potato Traders' Association secretary Lalu Mukherjee told PTI.

He criticised the government's decision, stating, "Such abrupt measures disrupt our business and cause huge losses as we fail to fulfil commitments." Traders and cold storage associations blamed the State government for failing to control prices in the local markets, attributing it to profiteering by intermediaries.

"Despite the wholesale price of potatoes in Kolkata being ₹27 per kg, how is it retailing at ₹35-40?" a trader questioned.

Neighbouring States such as Odisha and Jharkhand rely heavily on West Bengal for their potato supply. After the restrictions were imposed, prices in these States have also gone up.