Imported wheat not fit for human consumption: Gadkari

Mumbai, Sep 24 (UNI) Maharashtra BJP president Nitin Gadkari today claimed that imported wheat, distributed in tribal areas by government through fair price shops, was used for feeding pigs in Australia and other western countries.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Gadkari and former BJP MP Dr Kirit Somaiya said the Public Health Laboratory of government of Maharashtra has declared wheat, distributed under the Public Distribution System, as ''not fit for human consumption''.

Demanding that the government immediately stop the distribution of wheat, Mr Gadkari said it (government) should also announce a support price of Rs 14 per kg for the forthcoming harvest of wheat.

Mr Somaiya has obtained reports of the government laboratory under the Right to Information Act. The laboratory categorically stated that out of 265 samples made available to them, 229 samples of wheat did not conform to the standard of wheat as per the Health Services Act/Rules of 1955.

''It is not fit for human consumption and fungal growth affected whole wheat grains,'' the laboratory added.

Mr Gadkari and Mr Somaiya demanded criminal action against government authorities for distributing such ''inferior quality'' of wheat under the various social welfare schemes to the Scheduled Tribes, Food for Work programmes and the Below Poverty Schemes of Antyodaya and Annapurna.

UNI