Mumbai, Aug 13 (PTI): As consumers across the country feel the pinch of rising prices of onion, following erratic rainfall in growing areas leading to thin stocks, Congress in Maharashtra on Monday sought a probe into the steep price hike. "There should be an inquiry to ascertain if the steep onion price rise is natural or whether there is a conspiracy behind this," MPCC president Manikrao Thakre told reporters in Mumbai.

"Consumers have to bear the brunt of the price rise not due to nature's wrath, but due to hoarding by some traders," Thakre said. "Some elements have hoarded onion and are deliberately creating price rise. There are attempts to ensure that the government gets maligned in the process," the Congress leader said.

The government should act against such elements, Thakre said. On the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, Thakre said, in Vidarbha and Marathwada, there is mostly rainfed farming and the land holding is high. "As a result, the provisions of the present draft legislation won't be applicable in the state," he said.