There is no shortage of salt in the country, says Ram Vilas Paswan

The rumors of shortage salt has created chaos across the country. In some parts of the country, the salt is sold off at Rs 700 per kg. Curbing all the rumors of shortage of salt, the Centre said there has been no rise in price and the commodity is being sold at Rs 14-15 per kg in markets. 

Union food minister Ram Vilas Paswan said there is no shortage of salt in the country and price hike rumors are baseless. 

If anyone is selling at such high rates in any parts of the country, the state governments should take immediate action, he added.

Mumbai Police stepped in to dispel rumors about “steep hike” in prices of essential commodities, including salt after its control room was inundated with frantic calls from people wanting to know if the prices had really skyrocketed. 

In a series of tweets, commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman too said there was no shortage of edible salt.

In Uttar Pradesh, there were reports of panicked customers flocking to market as rumors flew thick and fast that salt has gone out of shelves and shopkeepers are selling at a premium — a high as Rs200 per kg.

The centre has also checked the price situation of salt in other states as well and there has not been any increase in the rate of the essential commodity. Meanwhile, Delhi government also appealed to Delhiites not to pay attention to rumors of shortage of salt in the city and assured that there is no scarcity of such essential commodity.