Tension prevailed in Delhi's Jamia Nagar area as residents hurled stones at police buses amid rumours of shortage of salt and hike in prices of the essential commodities.
Despite repeated clarification from the government, people in large number rushed to grocery shops in several parts of the city to buy salt following a rumour that Gujarat would be facing a severe shortage of salt in coming days. People could be seen jostling outside grocery shops in Shahpur, Vadaj, Jamalpur, Kalupur, Amraiwadi and many other parts of city to buy salt. "A rumour is doing rounds that Gujarat has run out of salt stock and there is a possibility of huge rise in the price. As a result, panic-stricken citizens are rushing to shops to buy it. We are trying our best to convince them that it is just a rumour," said Congress MLA Gyasuddin Shaikh.
Civil supplies minister Jayesh Radadiya appealed to people not to believe rumours. "We have enough stock of salt as well as sugar," said Radadiya. Chief Secretary JN Singh also urged people not to believe such rumours. "Gujarat is the largest producer of salt. We want to assure people that there is absolutely no shortage of salt in Gujarat," said Singh.
Delhi
The Delhi government on Friday night appealed to Delhiites not to pay attention to rumours of shortage of salt in the city and assured that there is no scarcity of such essential commodity. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said teams of food supply officers and sub-divisional magistrates are rounding city's markets where salt is available in sufficient stock. "There is no shortage of supply of salt. Teams of food supply officers and sub-divisional magistrates are rounding the city's markets where salt is available.
"Everywhere salt is available. Don't pay attention to such rumours," the Deputy CM tweeted. Rumours of salt shortage triggered panic among people in the evening who rushed to markets to buy salt in some of markets in the national capital. Later, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also assured that there is no shortage of salt and sugar in Delhi.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Imran Hussain said four teams have been deployed at different locations to crack down on black marketing of salt.
Tension prevailed in southeast Delhi's Jamia Nagar area as residents hurled stones at police buses amid rumours of shortage of salt and hike in prices of the essential commodities. As the rumour spread, scores of people stepped out on the Kalindi Kunj-Jamia Nagar road and vandalised buses, a senior police officer said.
They also threw stones at the police buses which were rushed to the spot to control the situation. Four policemen have been reportedly injured in the incident, he said. While police were trying to calm things down, a rumour spread that a trader was shot at during a fight due to the shortage of salt, he said.
Police placated the residents and brought the situation under control. Additional force from a neighbouring police stations was also called in, he said. A large number of police personnel are deployed in the area in view of the incident.
Uttar Pradesh
However, in Uttar Pradesh as per reports, some stores are selling salt at Rs. 200/Kg. Consumer Affairs Secretary Hem Pande, while speaking to ANI, discarded the rumours and said that there is no need to panic. Reacting on the issue, the Moradabad District Magistrate said salt is not going to be sold even one rupee more than its original rate and added that people need not worry and create panic. "Will take action against those spreading rumours, and there is no shortage of salt," said Additional Director General (Law and Order) Daljit Chaudhary to ANI.
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