Shimla, Oct 23 (IANS): Former union minister and BJP leader Shanta Kumar Wednesday slammed the central government for the delay in imposing a ban on the export of onions.

"This step (ban) should have been taken long back when the prices of onion starting soaring," Kumar said in a statement here.

"The delay in taking this decision only proved that the government was more interested in the profits of exporters and least concerned about the poor," the Rajya Sabha member said.

He said a similar situation arose during the tenure of the National Democratic Alliance government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. At the time, Shanta Kumar was consumer affairs minister.

"I had immediately discussed the matter with then home minister L.K. Advani and export of onions was banned within a week," he said.

Onion prices have soared to Rs.100 per kg in Delhi and they are being sold at around Rs.80 per kg in other parts of the country. The prices have more than doubled in the past four months.