The cynical might say this is a tear-jerker of a story. Alas, there is nothing amusing about it. For the common man, whose basic food includes the onion, the accelerating prices and unavailability of this vegetable has been catastrophic. Everyone accepts that the vagaries of Indian weather have played havoc with the crops. Yet as our reporters fanned out to investigate the shortage, blaming the rains was found to be an inadequate reason. For as culpable was a sleeping bureaucracy which failed to anticipate that the weather might strike -- if it had it could have reduced exports. Similarly bizarre we discovered was the situation in Delhi. Imports actually outstripped the demand, yet onions, clearly hoarded somewhere, could be found only at Rs 40-50 a kg. Politically this has become a ticking bomb. In a few weeks, four states go to the polls and political futures could be decided by this vegetable. In 1980 when onion prices rose to Rs 5 during the Janata Party rule, it helped Indira Gandhi return to power. Once again the Congress has been given a similar weapon.

Charting how the Government dithered was Special Correspondent Shefali Rekhi and Principal Correspondent Kumar Sanjoya Singh, who met everyone from NAFED Chairman Ajeet Kumar Singh to streetside sellers. What they also found was that when shortages strike so does black humour. In Rajasthan, the Congress has blamed the scarcity on the nuclear blasts. Its leaders say onions and potatoes have been dumped at the site to prevent radioactivity. Politicians as usual are quick to accuse but slow to offer solutions.

(Aroon Purie)