'Form joint panel to probe foodgrain import-export scam'

Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu today said that the Centre should constitute a joint parliamentary committee to enquire into the scams in the export and import of foodgrains in the last six years.

"Many scams took place in the export and import of foodgrains in the last six years of UPA rule. Even though there was a ban on the export of wheat, the government allowed some traders to export wheat from the country," Naidu told reporters here, adding wheat was also imported at higher than the price prevailing in the country.

There is a need to review the policy of export and import of foodgrains and it should be reviewed by the joint Parliamentary Committee, he said.

The leader also said that the party will raise the issue at the Parliament and will stage a sit-in on April 21. Naidu also alleged that the union ministry does not feel responsible on the issue of price rise.

"The ministers in the union cabinet are issuing contradictory statements on the prices of essential commodities," he alleged.

The leader also claimed that the farmers in the country do not receive remunerative prices. "The cost of inputs of agriculture has increased and the farming community is not happy with the market conditions," he added.