The price of onions, an essential ingredient of most Indian dishes has risen sharply, touching almost Rs 80 per kg at some places. A heavy monsoon that damaged crops has caused a sudden rise in prices. The government is selling the kitchen staple at subsidised rates in Delhi and therefore people were seen waiting in long queues to buy onions. While addressing a press conference in the national capital on September 24, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan said the Central government was looking at ways to release the buffer stock in its possession to help the common man.