Political nexus behind sale of co-op sugar factories, says Anna Hazare

Alleging a nexus among some Maharashtra politicians in selling co-operative sugar factories to private players by deliberately declaring these distressed, social activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday demanded a judicial inquiry into these transactions.

"These factories were deliberately declared sick and sold to private players. We demand that a judicial committee be appointed to probe into the selling and purchasing of 40 such factories," Hazare told reporters at a press conference with Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar.

In spite of a government order restraining the selling of co-operative sugar factories in the red to private firms, one was sold to a politician recently, Hazare said. "The state government wants to bring the curtain down on the cooperative sector in the state. Though 35 sugar factories were allocated to run on lease in the last eight years, none of them registered profit," Hazare added.

Alleging a conspiracy, the anti-graft campaigner said politicians cutting across party lines ensured the control of such factories by entering into dubious deals with some private players to "convert their black money into white."

Patkar alleged the valuation of 40 sugar factories that have been sold ran into Rs 10,000 crore.