[Reader-list] Shiva Sena selling veggies for no-profit

[Murali V]

Dont tell me that they ask for religion before they sell the produce to the
end users. Dont also tell me that only Hindus want to avail the cost benefit
and others dont go to the market to by those vegetables.
Regards,
V Murali

On Mon, Aug 3, 2009 at 7:59 PM, Javed <javedmasoo at gmail.com> wrote:

> Eyeing vote gain, Shiv Sena sells veggies at no-profit-no-loss rates
>
> Mon, Aug 3 06:34 AM
>
> After the drubbing it received in the recent Lok Sabha polls, the
> Thane unit of the Shiv Sena is now selling vegetables, at almost half
> the market rates.
>
> The idea is to turn the tide in its favour in the Assembly elections.
> The party hopes to do that by banking on an issue that is hurting
> people's pockets — rising veggie prices.
>
> In the Lok Sabha elections, the Sena fared poorly in Thane and lost a
> seat to the NCP. Selling vegetables is an attempt by the party to woo
> back voters weaned away by Raj Thackeray's MNS. Presence of MNS
> candidates in the fray was perceived as one reason why the Sena did
> not do well in the general elections in Thane as well as Mumbai, where
> it did not win even one seat
>
> The move is also aimed at targeting the state government over the
> soaring vegetable prices in the month of Shravan.
>
> Ever since the initiative was inaugurated by Sena executive president
> Uddhav Thackeray's wife Rashmi on July 27, the party has been selling
> vegetables. Within the municipal limits of Thane city, Shiv Sena is
> operating 17 outlets located in, or near, the party offices known as
> Shakhas.
>
> "Vegetables are directly procured from farmers in Pune and Nashik and
> sold at the cost price. Transportation expenses are borne by Sainiks
> who have pooled in money for the scheme," said Eknath Shinde,
> legislator and Sena's Thane district chief.
>
> The popularity of the scheme can be gauged from the fact that
> vegetable stocks are sold out in a matter of hours. The outlets which
> are the first to receive the supply open at 8 am and others start sale
> a couple of hours later, and the counters are empty by noon.
>
> Cauliflower, which is averaging about Rs 40-44 per kg in the market,
> is being sold at Rs 10-14 per kg, cabbage at Rs 8-12, carrot at Rs 12,
> ladyfinger at Rs 20 and capsicum at Rs 20.
>
> All agriculture produce has to be sold to wholesalers through the
> Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) but the party is
> circumventing the system to keep rates as low as possible.
>
> Shinde explained that they are able to sell at almost half the market
> prices as government agencies and middlemen have been bypassed.
>
> When pointed out that as per APMC regulations it is illegal to bring
> vegetables directly for sale, Shinde said : "Let the (authorities)
> prevent us from supplying affordable vegetables to people."
>
> "The price of vegetables sold by us averages about Rs 12-20 per kg
> which is nearly half the market price," said a party worker manning
> the sale counters at Tembi Naka.
>
> Shinde said pulses such as red gram (toor dal) and lentil would also
> be made available at subsidised rates.
>
> This initiative has been tailormade for the traditional vote-bank of
> the Sena, Hindus, particularly people from the Marathi community.
>
> Shravan is a month of abstinence from non-vegetarian food in the Hindu
> calendar, and this period always witnesses a peak in the prices of
> vegetables. The astronomical hike in the prices of vegetables has been
> attributed to the poor rainfall.
>
>
> http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20090803/814/tnl-eyeing-vote-gain-shiv-sena-sells-veg.html
> _________________________________________
> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> Critiques & Collaborations
> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
> subscribe in the subject header.
> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list
> List archive: &lt;https://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/reader-list/>