The rice market will remain unaffected despite the ongoing transport strike, said Food Minister Shadhan Chandra Majumder.
“There is no reason for prices of rice to increase unless there is a conspiracy,” he said on Wednesday (Nov 20) after a meeting with ministry employees and businessmen.
He added that there is enough stock in the market that prices of rice will remain unaffected even if the strike lasts for another 10 days.
“If anyone tried to hike the prices illegally, they won’t be spared,” the minister warned.
He said that the home and commerce ministries, as well as the consumer rights directorate, have been told to take steps. “If needed we’ll conduct mobile courts.”
Claiming that there was enough rice stocked, he added, “We are thinking of exporting rice not importing.”
The minister said that nearly 35.5 million tonne of rice was produced in the 2018-19 fiscal year against the yearly demand of 28.4 million.