Oppn walkout over Urea crisis in MP

Bhopal, Feb 21 (UNI) The opposition Congress members today staged a walkout in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly over ''artificial crisis'' in urea supply with the change in policy to enable entry of private players in fertiliser distribution.

The opposition members, who raised the issue through a calling attention notice, grilled Agriculture Minister Choudhary Chandrabhan for ''not giving a convincing reply'' and alleged the crisis was deliberately created to facilitate private distributors for blackmarketing and fleecing the farmers.

Mr Arif Aqueel, Dr Govind Singh and Mr Satyadeo Katare (all Cong), who moved the notice, charged the Agriculture Minister for attempting to deflect the blame on the Centre for the state government's failure in conveying the requirement in time.

Leader of the opposition Jamuna Devi, who led the walkout expressing dissatisfaction over the Minister's reply, said the state government had delayed in conveying about its requirement.

Agriculture Minister Choudhary Chandrabhan, in his reply, said the crisis arose due to short supply of urea in October and November last year though the total supply during the Rabi season was 8.33 lakh tonnes against the requirement of 8 lakh tonnes. Of this 7.79 lakh tonnes had already been distributed to farmers.

Mr Chandrabhan contended anti-social elements were involved in loot of urea from trucks and trains, while Mr Arif Aqeel (Cong) claimed the agitated farmers resorted to looting urea from trucks in Bhind-Morena districts, from a train in Ratlam and blocked the road in Sehore.

Mr Satyadeo Katare(Cong) said the crisis was created as the state government changed the policy empowering the departmental minister to fix the quota for distribution by private traders and cooperative societies on 50: 50 ratio, while the previous policy was in favour of cooperative societies with 80 per cent share and the rest by private traders.

Mr Katare grilled the Agriculture Minister for attempting to put the blame on the Centre while the state government failed to arrange fertiliser stock in advance.

Dr Govind Singh(BJP) said the government sent its requirement only on December 22 though the Rabi sowing started in October.

At one stage, the house plunged into uproar as the treasury bench members were on their feet protesting Dr Singh's alleged attempt to admonish the Agriculture minister.

Mr Ramlakhan Sharma (CPI-M) alleged the BJP government had allowed traders to loot the farmers through blackmarketing at inflated rates after creating an artificial scarcity.

UNI