Order judicial probe in rise in dal prices; sack Minister: NCP

Stepping up its attack on the BJP-led Government in Maharashtra over the rise in dal prices, NCP today demanded sacking of Food and Civil Supplies Minister Girish Bapat and a judicial inquiry into the matter.
The Sharad Pawar-led Opposition party said Government should set up an inquiry commission headed by a sitting High Court Judge to look into the reasons for the rise in tur dal prices and related matters.
Addressing a press conference here, NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said the terms and reference of the panel should cover fixing responsibility for lifting restrictions on stock limit of pulses due to which their prices shot up way above Rs 100 per kg a few months back.

In October-end, price of tur was Rs 173 per kg in Mumbai.
He said despite seizure of tur dal from hoarders, the stocks have not been released for common consumers by the Government or auctioned.
"Why is the Government dilly dallying on auctioning the seized dal or releasing it through public distribution system (PDS)?" the NCP leader sought to know.
Malik claimed Bapat wrote a letter to his Department Secretary blaming him for the sudden spurt in dal rates. This shows the Minister has admitted to lapses by his department and hence he should be sacked, he added.