Pawar asks Nafed to reconsider sacking MD

Terming Nafed's decision to sack its Managing Director C V Anand Bose as "incorrect", Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today asked the co-operative firm to reconsider the same.

Last week, Nafed board had decided to repatriate Bose on charges of alleged misuse of funds and misconduct. It had requested the ministry to send a fresh panel of probables.

"If the senior officer has been deputed by the government as MD, I do not think it is proper for (Nafed's) board  to remove him," Pawar said, when asked about his reaction on the entire development.

"It seems that an unfortunate incident has happened and I am looking into the matter," he added. "The official should maintain good relationship with the elected representatives and similarly they should maintain the dignity and respect of the appointed officer."

When asked whether the ministry would direct Nafed to reinstate Bose, Pawar said the Nafed board should reconsider its decision.

Yesterday, the Minister of State for Food and Agriculture K V Thoms gave a clean chit to Bose.

"We have verified and enquired the complaint against Anand Bose. We have found nothing against him," Minister of State for Agriculture K V Thomas had said.

Bose had refuted the allegations made by Nafed board, saying that he was paying the price for his crusade against corrupt officials in the organisation.

Thomas said Nafed's Additional MD P K Sharma, who was given the charge of MD for the time being by the Nafed board, can not continue as Additional MD as he has involved some of his relatives in the co-operative business.

Nafed procures agriculture produce on behalf of the government. It also intervenes in the market to control prices, if necessary.