The tremendous increase in the price of tomato is not hidden from everyone. As per data released by consumer affairs ministry, tomato prices in metros were ruling at Rs95/kg in Kolkata, Rs92/kg in Delhi, Rs80/kg in Mumbai and Rs55/kg in Chennai on July 29. There has been no decrease in the price so far and Congress party decided to protest in a unique way against these rising prices.
The opposition party opened a bank called the “State Bank of Tomato” in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. “I have deposited 0.5 Kg tomatoes; will get 1 kg after 6 months. I’m 103-year-old, never thought have to see this,” said Srikrishna Verma, one of the customers at the ‘bank’.
Sources also shared the ‘bank’s “attractive offers”, which claimed a 5x return on tomatoes deposited within six months, among other provisions like ‘lockers for the tomatoes’, ’80 per cent loans on tomatoes’ and ‘attractive interest rates for depositing tomatoes, especially for the poor’.
Read More: Maharashtra farmers’ protest: Vegetable prices on an upward path
Almost like a staged parody of how a bank works, the ‘bank’ will operate from 10 am to 5 pm, according to a report by Times of India. While this could be seen as satirical, buyers and sellers are having a bad time due to the spike in rates.
The prices of the basic vegetable are touching skies in the recent past, owing to the inconsistent supply of rainfall throughout the country. While tomatoes prices are touching the sky, onions’ have risen too drastically. This is causing an extreme problem for common people as they depend on these vegetables for their daily living.
Lucknow (UP): In a unique protest against the rising prices of the tomatoes, Congress opens bank called “State Bank of Tomato”. pic.twitter.com/lNpAaexgMu
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 2, 2017
I have deposited 0.5 Kg tomatoes, will get 1 kg after 6 months. I'm 103-year-old, never thought have to see this: Srikrishna Verma, customer pic.twitter.com/PlXdnSYGvK
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 2, 2017
