BJP smells Rs 1,200 crore scam in wheat import

New Delhi, July 12 (UNI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today demanded the resignation of Agriclture Minister Sharad Pawar, accusing him of being a party in a Rs 1,200 crore scam in the import of five lakh tonnes of wheat.

Briefing newsmen here today, BJP spokesman Prakash Javrekar said the Government had earlier rejected the tender floated in May on the plea that the quoted price of wheat at 263 dollar per metric tonnes was on the higher side .

But the Government has gone ahead to import wheat through fresh tenders, which quoted price around 320/360 dollars per tonnes--around 100 dollars higher than that of the May tenders.

Smelling some foul play in new deal, the BJP questioned the Government on why wheat was being imported from Cargill, which had been allowed to make purchases from the Indian domestic market.

UNI