The Opposition BJD and Congress have launched a blistering attack on the Mohan Charan Majhi government in Odisha holding it responsible for the rise in the prices of potato and demanding immediate measures to rein in the rates.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Assembly on Monday, BJD chief whip Pramilla Mallik said the price of potatoes had doubled, going up from Rs 30 to 60 per kg during the last seven days, and sought to know what steps the government was taking to tamp down the prices and ensure smooth supply.

The BJD members staged a protest in the House and wanted to know why the “double-engline” government was unable to ensure adequate supply of potatoes to the consumers.

“Food supplies and consumer welfare minister Krushna Chandra Patra had said 300 trucks of potatoes were being imported from Uttar Pradesh. We want to know whether they have reached the state. The consumers are being exploited and the government has totally failed,” she said, adding that potatoes are a poor man’s food and the rise in prices had hurt them the most.

Seasoned politician and BJD MLA Ganeswar Behera urged the Speaker to direct the chief minister and the food supplies and consumer welfare minister to intervene in the matter and to hold discussions with the Bengal government to ensure steady supply of potatoes.

The Congress also raised the issue. The government has failed to control the prices of essential commodities, it said, adding that the prices of essential commodities has increased manifold during the last five months after the BJP government assumed power.