09-07-2007, 01:48 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> <b>Shameless loot: BJP </b>
Special Correspondent
<i>Reason cited for cancelling the first tender questioned </i>
<b>Order CBI investigation, </b>
says Javadekar
âPrime Minister should explainâ
NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday described the Governmentâs decision to import wheat yet another time at a price of $390 a tonne as âshameless loot.â
<b>Party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said the Government rejected an offer of wheat at $263 a tonne in June. Ten days later, it imported 5.7 lakh tonnes at $325 a tonne. While it is yet to arrive, another order for nearly 8 lakh tonnes has been placed at the rate of $390 a tonne. âThis is daylight robbery,â Mr. Javadekar said.
Calling for the Prime Ministerâs intervention to âstop the fraud,â he said the party was not impressed by the Governmentâs âreasonâ for cancelling the first tender. It was stated that the price of $263 a tonne was âtoo highâ and there was an expectation that the international wheat price would âsoftenâ on new arrivals.</b>
Mr. Javadekar said the government should order a CBI inquiry. If not, vigilance agencies and courts should take suo motu notice of the issue and stop the imports.
While Indian farmers were being paid Rs. 850 a quintal by government agencies procuring wheat for buffer stock, foreign farmers were offered Rs. 1,600 a quintal. Had the minimum support price announced by the Government been Rs. 1,100 a quintal, the State could have met its procurement target for the buffer stock as production was more than last yearâs by 50 lakh tonnes.
âThe Prime Minister should explain how the import would help stabilise the price line while doing justice to farmers,â Mr. Javadekar said. The BJP has launched an agitation on the âwheat scamâ and would spread the âmessage of betrayalâ all over the country, he added.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Special Correspondent
<i>Reason cited for cancelling the first tender questioned </i>
<b>Order CBI investigation, </b>
says Javadekar
âPrime Minister should explainâ
NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday described the Governmentâs decision to import wheat yet another time at a price of $390 a tonne as âshameless loot.â
<b>Party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said the Government rejected an offer of wheat at $263 a tonne in June. Ten days later, it imported 5.7 lakh tonnes at $325 a tonne. While it is yet to arrive, another order for nearly 8 lakh tonnes has been placed at the rate of $390 a tonne. âThis is daylight robbery,â Mr. Javadekar said.
Calling for the Prime Ministerâs intervention to âstop the fraud,â he said the party was not impressed by the Governmentâs âreasonâ for cancelling the first tender. It was stated that the price of $263 a tonne was âtoo highâ and there was an expectation that the international wheat price would âsoftenâ on new arrivals.</b>
Mr. Javadekar said the government should order a CBI inquiry. If not, vigilance agencies and courts should take suo motu notice of the issue and stop the imports.
While Indian farmers were being paid Rs. 850 a quintal by government agencies procuring wheat for buffer stock, foreign farmers were offered Rs. 1,600 a quintal. Had the minimum support price announced by the Government been Rs. 1,100 a quintal, the State could have met its procurement target for the buffer stock as production was more than last yearâs by 50 lakh tonnes.
âThe Prime Minister should explain how the import would help stabilise the price line while doing justice to farmers,â Mr. Javadekar said. The BJP has launched an agitation on the âwheat scamâ and would spread the âmessage of betrayalâ all over the country, he added.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->