Munde alleges scam in wheat import

Bhopal, Aug 3 (UNI) Alleging a Rs 1,400-crore scam in wheat import, BJP General Secretary and Kisan Andolan Convenor Gopinath Munde today demanded that the deal be cancelled and a high-level inquiry conducted.

''The Centre is importing 50 lakh metric tonnes this year at Rs 1,400 per quintal. The scam has placed Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in the dock. The Centre's policies are anti-farmer and 4,000 peasants committed suicide last year. During that period, wheat was imported at Rs 1,100 per quintal while it was purchased at Rs 750 per quintal from cultivators,'' he told mediapersons here.

Pointing out that an agitation -- getting underway on August 20 at Delhi against the anti-farmer policies -- would expose the facts, Mr Munde claimed that a tender was cancelled in May 2007 and another higher-priced one ayed for the deal.

''The Centre should dole out farm loans at 4 per cent interest,'' he added.

Earlier, he addressed the party's state Kisan Morcha meeting.

Among those present were Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BJP state President Narendra Singh Tomar and General Secretary (Organisation) Makhan Singh.

UNI