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Delhi may curb cement import to retaliate Paks onion ban
Updated on Thursday, January 13, 2011, 11:37 Print Email Buzz up!
Zeebiz Bureau
New Delhi: In an apparent retaliation to the ban imposed by Pakistan on onion exports to India, the Indian government is now mulling to prohibit import of cement from across the border, a newspaper report said on Thursday.
The proposal is part of a package of measures to tame food price inflation that will be discussed by the Union cabinet on Thursday, the paper added.
Pakistan had banned export of onion via Wagah border after India imported the item to cool down prices in the country. Pakistan, while citing rising prices of onion in the country, also asked Delhi to relax the export curbs on cotton. India has rejected the demand citing needs of the domestic industry.
A ban on cement will force Pakistan businesses, who have a stake in cement exports to India, to lobby Islamabad to lift curbs on onion exports, the paper said.
New Delhi dubbed the Pakistan's decision as "shocking".
Onion prices have jumped to over Rs 60 a kg recently as crops in the Maharashtra, which produces a big chunk of the commodity, damaged due to recent rains.
Food prices have also jumped in the recent times with food inflation touching 18.32% for the week ended December 25.
The Centre is likely to announce a host of measure to control price rise in food items today. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had a two-day meeting with senior Cabinet colleagues in the last two days.
Delhi may curb cement import to retaliate Pak?s onion ban