Disposal of red wheat may lead to another scam: Somaiya

Mumbai, May 13 (UNI) With the Maharashtra government issuing orders to dispose of nearly 40,000 tonnes of imported red wheat after it was found unfit for consumption, senior BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya today said there may be another scam in the offing.

He alleged that plans are afoot to use this wheat for making of bread and added that this should not be allowed at any cost.

Tender process should be scrapped immediately and fresh laboratory tests should be done on each and every sack of wheat, he told reporters here.

Forty thousand tonnes of imported red wheat should be thrown in the dumping ground or garbage, he said.

Mr Somaiya said his party had asked the government whether it would let private traders to convert this horrible quality of wheat into wheat flour. It will then be used to prepare bread for use by the people.

''BJP shall not allow the government to play with the lives of the people by getting this horrible quality wheat converted into wheat flour and then used in bread,'' he said.

Presently, there are three petitions pending in the Bombay High Court, State Human Rights Commission and the Supreme Court, he said.

Mr Somaiya warned that he may once again go to court on the issue.

UNI JM SSS AM NS1905