Karat demands inquiry into wheat imports

Chandigarh, Sep 23 (UNI) CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat today urged the UPA Government to order full scale inquiry into the import of wheat that led to loss of Rs 541 crore to the ex-chequer.

"The Government has imported wheat at the rate of Rs 1600 per quintal, incurring a loss of Rs 541 crore", he said at press conference here. "Why the Government has to undergo such a huge loss s a serious matter which needed to be probed", he added.

Mr Karat said the Government had given the reason that it opted for imports to control upward surge in the prices of wheat, but despite imports the wheat prices had increased.

He said when the prices of wheat was 263 dollars per quintal in the international market, the Government had described it as dearer, but now it imported wheat at the rate of 370 dollars, incurring a loss of Rs 541 crore.

While the Government had fixed the minimum support price of wheat at Rs 850 per quintal, it resorted to imports at the price double the amount of MSP, he said.

Mr Karat said the CPM was not satisfied with the reply of the Agriculture Minister in this regard and hence demanded a thorough inquiry into the import of wheat.

UNI