R R Patil blames the Cotton Federation for Wani incident

Nagpur, Dec 11 (UNI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil today blamed the Maharashtra State Cotton Growers' Marketing Cooperative Federation for the breakdown of the arrangements at the cotton procurement centre in Wani in Vidarbha that led to violent protests from farmers and the subsequent firing by the police that claimed one life on Friday.

Replying to a discussion under Rule 93 in the Legislative Council, Mr Patil said there were serious lapses by the Federation that led to the collapse of the arrangements, leading to discontent among the farmers.

''Cotton from 1,800 carts was procured in a single day at the centre yesterday. If that was possible, why were only 400 carts processed over three days before the protests broke out,''he asked.

The exact reasons behind the incident would be revealed during the magisterial enquiry that had already been ordered into the incident, Mr Patil said.

Accepting that there was rampant corruption at the procurement centres, he said the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has been directed to keep a watch on corrupt elements at every centre.

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