Wheat controversy: BJP criticises UPA, demands CBI inquiry

Mumbai, Aug 31 (UNI) Senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya today alleged that the UPA government's Food, civil supply&consumer Ministry has allowed the multinationals and corporates to hedge wheat at a cheaper rate at Chicago Commodity Exchange (CBOT) and sell the same to it at double rates and demanded a CBI inquiry into the scam.

Talking to reporters here, Dr Somaiya claimed the UPA government itself confirmed that the 'wheat import scam is wheat hedging scam'.

He said the government-owned PSU Project Engineering Corporation (PEC) has tendered 50,000 tonnes of imported wheat at Rs 15.75 per kg against the price of Rs 17.75 per kg offered to MNCs such as Cargill.

''The wheat scam will now cost government more than Rs 3,000 crore,'' alleged the BJP leader and questioned the philosophy of Congress paying Rs 17.55 per kg for inferior quality of wheat against Rs 7.50 per kg to Indian farmers.

UNI