APMC vegetable market workers threaten to strike if their leader Shashikant Shinde isn't made minister
APMC vegetable market workers threaten to strike if their leader Shashikant Shinde isn't made ministerNow an MLA not getting a minister's post could mean you pay more for your vegetables. Merchants, workers and vendors at the APMC market, called for a strike on Saturday afternoon and have threatened to go on a strike again if their leader Shashikant Shinde is not made a minister.
The APMC market in Vashi is already fired up. A few vendors across the city are stocking up vegetables and some are planning to hike prices fearing that the stocks won't be available on Monday.
Pravin Kumar Gupta a vegetable vendor in Lalbaugh says, "We have already stocked vegetables because the market is closed on Sunday, but I will have to increase the prices if the market is closed on Monday too."
However, officials at APMC market sound unperturbed by the consequences of a strike during these times of inflation. Ashok Walunj, director, APMC market says, "Our leader won the election three times in a row, yet he is not being given a ministry, which is sad. We expect NCP leaders to take a note. If (Sharad) Pawar saheb doesn't pay attention, we will go on strike again." While the market will be shut on Sunday, the officials might strike on Monday.
A senior NCP leader says that it's too late to fit in another minister now. "The possibility of Shinde getting a ministry now is zero, however, he might be made the head of a corporation or a committee," adds the senior NCP leader.