'Grow Tomatoes In Pots, Stop Eating Whatever Gets Expensive': BJP Leader Draws Flak For Remarks

Her statement drew flak from the Congress who interpreted it as government admitting that there is no way to bring the prices down.

Uttar Pradesh minister Pratibha Shukla has stoked a controversy with her advice to stop eating tomatoes and grow it at home as a solution to the surge in prices of the fruit. "If you stop eating tomatoes, the prices will inevitably come down. And people should grow tomatoes at home. You can also eat lemon instead of tomato. If nobody is eating tomatoes, the prices will come down," said the minister on Saturday as the tomato prices continue soaring across the country with one kg still above Rs 120. 

Her statement drew flak from the Congress who interpreted it as government admitting that there is no way to bring the prices down. 

“This madam who gives such good advice is a minister in Uttar Pradesh,” tweeted Supriya Shrinate adding, “In the race of being indifferent, you have defeated your colleagues, congratulations."

On Friday, the government said that the retail prices of tomatoes are expected to fall with higher supply of new crops from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. 

In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ashwini Kumar Choubey said, "Prices of tomato are expected to come down with the increase in arrival of new crop from Nashik, Naryangaon and Aurangabad belt in Maharashtra and also from Madhya Pradesh." He said the "current increase in tomato prices may incentivise farmers to grow more tomato crop which is expected to stabilise the prices in coming months".

Choubey attributed the recent increase in prices to a combination of factors like "crop seasonality, white fly disease in Kolar (Karnataka), instantaneous arrival of monsoon rains in northern part of the country which adversely affected tomato crops in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and logistics disruptions in isolated areas due to heavy rains." 

In response to a question by independent member Kartikeya Sharma, the minister informed that the average daily retail price of tomato had crossed Rs 150 per kg in Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the week July 10-16.