BJP alleges scam in wheat import

Jaipur, Aug 1(UNI) Bharatiya Janata Party today alleged a 'scam' in the wheat import by the UPA governemnt at an exorbiant price and would organsie a farmers' protest march at Parliment on August 20in New Delhi.

BJP state general secretary and co ordinator of the Farmers Rally, Rampal Jat while addressing a press conference here said the UPA government which has cancelled a tender for the import of 10 lakh tonnes of Wheat at Rs 1100 in May this year had made a samersault within one month and ordered the import of 50 lakh tonnes of wheat at price range of Rs.1300-1450 in July.

He said 50,000 farmers from Rajasthan would attend the farmers rally.

Mr Jat said the whole issue of wheat import is smacked of corruption. He said the wheat production in the country has increased from 690 lakh tonnes last year to 740 lakh tonnes this year and demanded the rationale for importing wheat when production of wheat is on the high.

He said the government under the minimum support price offers just Rs.850 per quintal while the price offered to imported wheat is at Rs 1300-1450, which is unjustifiable. He said instead of importing wheat at such a high price, the government should have supported the country's farmers with increased support price for wheat.

Rampal Jat also took pot shot at the UPA government's decision to reduce the BPL quota of wheat from 35 kg to 20 kg per month. He said UPA is paying only lip service to aam admi and has exposed the anti poor stand by its own actions.

UNI