As a citizen deeply concerned over the plight of the poor, I have visited the stores like Spencer's thrice. The first visit was on August 14, when mandis in Lucknow were on strike to protest entry of the big players in retail. And two more visits subsequently. While 'seeing' the vegetables on display there I noticed that they did not appear as 'fresh' as they were in the local markets. I pondered over this difference and found that the vegetables (and may be fruits) in the local market were 'fresher' because the vegetable vendor: a. Frequenly sprinkled water over the vegetables on display. b. Dyed the vegetables (like parwal, lady fingers and spinach) with non-food colours. c. Applied burnt mobil oil to polish brinjal to give it that extra shine. Those who have seen the vegetables in farms will acknowledge that the vegetable are not that green and shining as they are in local mandis.
Though I am all for the small traders, I am also dead against the spurious methods they use to push off their produce. Moreover, they are often rude and indulge in other malpractices.
In my view, it should have been left to the people to decide where they intended to purchase their vegetables - quality produce from the stores, or spurious produce from the 'friendly' vegetable vendors. That must have set aside all the controversy.
As far as Mayawati is concerned, she is out to demolish everything which is a 'threat' to her or her projects' security, and is law and order problem.
