Sibal seeks CBI probe into diversion of foodgrains in UP

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Apr 30 (UNI) Senior Congress Leader and Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal today demanded a CBI probe into what he called a multi-crore scam in misappropriation of foodgrains meant for distribution among the people below the poverty line under the Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana(SGRY) in Uttar Pradesh.

Mr Sibal, convenor of the AICC Media Management Committee for Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, told mediapersons here that the scheme, under which the Union Government supplies foodgrains to States to be utilised under the various programmes, was ''misused through a conspiracy'' as the stock was diverted to Bangladesh and Nepal.

The purpose of the scheme was to generate employment for people who work and receive remuneration both in kind and cash.

Remuneration in kind was paid by giving foodgrains, he said.

According to Mr Sibal, District Magistrates of 30 UP districts had written to the state government intimating misappropriation of foodgrains in their repective districts.

He said an enquiry by Special Secretary Hari Shankar Pandey had revealed misappropriation of foodgrain under the SGRY scheme in which Rs 457 crores were embezzelled in district Gonda in which the Chief Development officer, District Manager Food Corporation, BDO, FP shop owners and contrators, among others, were involved.

The Chief Minister, he said, had recommended the case for a CBI inquiry but had later withdrawn the same. No other inquiry was ordered for other districts, he said.

He said foodgrains were lifted by the food mafia instead of fair price shop owners and then sold in the black market. The PDS scheme was subverted and ninety-nine per cent of the foodgrain never reached the beneficiaries. Such diversion could not have taken place without the active connivance of the higher functionaries, he added.

UNI

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