Bengal government blames price hike on floods, centre

The minister said the government was trying to bring down the prices to normal levels.

The 11-member special task force entrusted with conducting surprise checks and monitoring prices was maintaining a vigil and making the rounds of the markets.

An emergency meeting of the task force has been called here Oct 30.

"There is a shortage in onion supply. We are selling onions at subsidised rates", the minister said.

Roy said the sharp differences between the prices received by the farmers and the those selling at wholesale and retail markers needed to be reduced.

But the opposition was in no mood to let go of the opportunity to attack the government on the issue. "Seems to me 'dal me kuch kala hai' (something's fishy). The task force has either failed to take the required steps or has not deliberately taken the needed measures to control prices," Left Front chairman Biman Bose said.