'Chikki' issue rocks Council as Cong, NCP demand discussion

The issue of procurement of chikki and other items by the state women and child welfare department without calling for tenders today triggered noisy scenes and two adjournments in the Maharashtra Legislative Council.
Council chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar denied permission for the discussion on the issue to NCP's Hemant Takle and Congress's Bhai Jagtap. The chairman said the issue would be discussed after the question hour tomorrow.
Takle said the government was involved in wrongdoing by procuring various items including chikki (a sweet candy) without e-tendering, and the people should know about this.
Pankaja Munde, the concerned minister, has denied the allegations of irregularity in the purchase of chikki and other items, meant for children in schools in tribal areas.

"Items like chikki, books...Worth Rs 206 crore have been purchased by the department without calling for tenders, when as per the rule, e-tendering should be resorted to for contracts above Rs 3 lakh. Low-quality chikki purchased by the government will affect the health of children," Takle said.
"The health department has bought medicines when there was no need. There are ministers who have produced bogus (educational) certificates. All these issues should be brought out before the people," the NCP MLC added.

Congress's Bhai Jagtap endorsed Takle's demand.
"Even the High Court has issued notice to the government and asked it to clarify stand on the (chikki) issue. Too much contamination was found in chikki supplied to anganwadi schools," he said.

"This is a very serious issue and discussion is required so that government's stand becomes clear," Jagtap said.
But Nimbalkar said the issue can be discussed after the question hour tomorrow. Not satisfied with chairman's decision, opposition MLCs stormed into the well of the house, shouting slogans, which forced Nimbalkar to adjourn the house twice, once for 15 minutes and then for 45 minutes.