“Congress, INDIA bloc secured massive victory” : Jairam Ramesh after Centre lifts ban on onion exports

New Delhi [India], May4 (ANI): Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh on Saturday claimed that INDIA bloc has secured massive victory for the Kisans of India after the Centre was forced to revoke its “mindless ban on onion export”.

In a post on X, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh said that after months of pressure, the Modi government has lifted the restriction but has kept a 40 per cent export tax in place.

“Today, Congress and our INDIA janbandhan allies have secured a massive victory for the Kisaans of India. After months of pressure, the Modi Sarkar has been forced to revoke its mindless ban on onion export. Still, continuing the Prime Minister’s apathy to farmer issues, it has kept a 40 per cent export tax in place,” he said.

“As announced by Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Nashik, the largest center for onion production, Congress guarantees that we will develop a stable import-export policy for agricultural products. On June 4, when the INDIA alliance takes power, these cruel and arbitrary export bans and taxes will go,” Jairam added.

Further, the Congress leader alleged that the step has been taken as a last effort to gain seats in Maharashtra while violating the Model Code of Conduct.

“Today, on May 4, in flagrant violation of the Model Code of Conduct and in a desperate last-ditch effort to gain seats in Maharashtra, the Centre has revoked the onion export ban, while keeping a minimum export price of $550 per ton, and imposing a fresh 40 per cent export duty,” Jairam Ramesh added.

He also emphasized that the INDIA alliance will be a government dedicated to farmer welfare, in every way.

“Farmers plant their crops months in advance, and arbitrary bans and taxes – in addition to lack of an assured MSP – make it impossible for farmers to invest in their production,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Dept. of Consumer Affairs at a press conference in Delhi, said that all restrictions on onion export have been removed with effect from today.

According to the official estimate, the Rabi 2024 onion production is about 191 lakh tons, which is reasonably comfortable considering monthly domestic consumption of about 17 lakh tons.

The export of onion had been prohibited with effect from 8 December 2023 to increase domestic supply against an estimated 20 per cent decline in the Kharif and late Kharif production. (ANI)