BJP takes RTI route on wheat export scam

New Delhi, July 14 (UNI) Having already put the UPA government on the defensive by alleging a scam in the import of 500,000 tonnes of wheat, the BJP has taken the Right to Information route to extract more details on the deal.

BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said that the official statement defending the decision had only confirmed the allegation and it was only a 'failed attempt' to cover the scam.

''There can be no defence why the government, after rejecting wheat at 263 dollars a MT in May 2007, only purchased the same wheat at a price ranging from 320 to 360 dollars a MT, ''he said.

The government is willing to pay only Rs 850 a quintal whereas it is ready to pay Rs 1200 to Rs 1300 for imported wheat at a time when the wheat production had actually increased, the spokesman added, alleging that one of the entities allowed to supply wheat was allowed to procure wheat privately.

Mr Javadekar who had demanded the resignation of Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for causing huge losses to the exchequer said he had filed an application under the RTI to get further information on the 'dubious deal'.

UNI