BJP sticks to CBI probe into wheat import

New Delhi, Aug 9 (UNI) Reiterating its demand for CBI probe into the wheat import, the BJP today stuck to its earlier charge that the government had bungled on cancelling the wheat import tender at a low rate of 263 dollars per tonne in May and deciding to import the stock at a higher price of 100 dollars a tonne, a month later.

The government has given many 'unplausible reasons' for cancellation of the tenders at low rates but failed to explain why it suddently, decided to re-tender for import of 50 lakh tonnes of wheat around June 10, 2007, BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said here today.

''Will the Prime Minister explain to the nation as to why the government changed its stand by 80 degree within a week'', he asked.

Later, the tenders floated for 5.11 million tonnes of wheat and import orders were placed at a weighted average price of 325 dollars per tonne.

''This is a clear admission of not only flip-flop or error of judgement, but also a foul play'', the spokesman said.

The government's decision to import wheat despite its own assessment proves that ''something happened behind the scenes during the first week of June and some vested inerests have played their part'', he added.

Saying that the wheat import episode entailed serious repercussions for the country, the party said, ''This decision to import at a higher price is adding insult to the injury of Indian farmers and is against the national interests besides being heavy burden on exchequer''.

The party did not agree to the reasons given by the government for the wheat import excercise. The government said it had cancelled the earlier May tenders on the assessment that wheat prices might soften beyond August, 2007 as compared to June, 2007 and the soft prices were expected to countinue to rule throughout the year as Autralian crop was reported as 'good' and hits the global markets every year-end.

Besides that, reports on the prevailing commodity prices had insinuated at the declining wheat price in international market and keeping that in view, the govenrment had decided to take advantage of future market conditions.

The government also contended that the May tenders were also cancelled fearing that accepting of imported wheat at a price higher than domestic procurement price would cause a strong resentment among the farmers busy in selling their crop at that time.

UNI