Demand CBI inquiry into wheat procurement

Main opposition Congress has demanded CBI inquiry into wheat procurement by state government. The party alleged that state government machinery procured wheat through BJP-supported middlemen and from public distribution system.

Leader of opposition Ajay Singh alleged that state government had failed to cross even 6.5 million tonne figure and procured only 6.1 million tonne. "They procured wheat of their own people, in fact the funds save this way against bonus payment on per quintal of wheat has been appropriated towards populist announcement of providing wheat at Rs 1 per kg and Rs 2 per kg rice. The Shivraj Singh Chouhan government is making scam after scam," Singh alleged.

State government is expecting to procure 6.4 million tonne of wheat this year against its target of 11 million tonne.

State offered Rs 150 per quintal bonus on wheat procurement on minimum support price of Rs 1,350 thereby making it highest price of Rs 1,500 crore at any Indian government procurement system.

MP government on the other hand said our purpose to ensure proper return to farmers' yield has been served. Farmers did not turn up at government procurement centres since they were offered better prices in private market.

"If a farmer is getting more than Rs 1,500 per quintal why state government would interfere in it. Should we forcefully ask them to sale it our centres. We want our farmers to fetch as much as they can from their yield," Paras Jain, state minister for food and civil supplies said. The state has opened its wheat procurement process from April 15 closed it on May 25. Yet in six district the procurement would continue.

According to Chandrahas Dubey, managing director of the MP State Civil Supplies Corporation, nodal agency for wheat procurement, these six districts would ensure that all those farmers who have been left should come forward and ensure procurement.

But these additional days from all the six districts would not ensure more than 100,000 tonne of wheat thus the government would reach 6.5 million tonne.