Pawar misleading people on wheat imports: Somaiya

Mumbai, Oct 24 (UNI) Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya today accused Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar of misleading the people on the wheat import issue.

When UPA government came to power, the country had a stock of 69 lakh tonnes of wheat, Mr Somaiya said while talking to reporters here.

Mr Somaiya said after 2004, the procurement of wheat was conducted in an improper manner and there was less procurement from Congress-ruled states of Punjab and Haryana.

He alleged that this was done deliberately so as to enable the imports.

Meanwhile, a delegation led by BJP general secretary Gopinath Munde, Maharashtra BJP president Nitin Gadkari, and Leader of the Opposition Pandurang Phundkar today called on Governor S M Krishna and urged him to stop the distribution of rotten wheat through fair price shops. The Governor assured the delegation that he will look into the matter.

UNI