Terming rumors about salt shortage a mischief, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali has clarified that there is no dearth of salt in Jammu & Kashmir.The Minister said that some people are spreading the rumors about shortage of salt in Jammu & Kashmir which is a hoax. He said that some people are trending the news on TV and social media which has no authenticity.‘’There is absolutely no shortage of salt in any part J&K,” the Minister said adding that the news is being spread by people with vested interest.Zulfkar said the government won’t allow anybody to create artificial shortage of salt and unscrupulous elements found involved in hoarding of salt will be dealt with as per the law.The Minister also clarified that not only Jammu & Kashmir, there is no shortage of salt in the whole country. He said the people who are trying to create artificial shortage of salt are having vested interest. ‘’These people are hell bent to hike prices of essential commodities for which they are trying to spread rumors about artificial shortage of commodities,” Zulfkar added.Zulfkar Ali has issued strict instructions to the officers of Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Department to strictly keep an eye on markets and check hoarding of salt if any. He instructed to take stern against those found involved in creating artificial shortage of salt and other commodities.