Wheat issue: MP CM takes on Centre

Bhopal, Jan 21 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today fired a broadside at the Centre by alleging that the latter was playing with the state's public by endangering food security and added that he would not hesitate to take to streets to register his protest.

''Wheat imported from Australia and America is unfit for human consumption,'' he said while addressing a demonstration organised at the local Roshanpura crossing as part of a statewide sit-in agitation by the BJP against supply of ''substandard red wheat'' for the Public Distribution System and the Centre's alleged policies of partiality.

Alleging that the wheat was having a harmful effect on public health, Mr Chouhan added that the Centre's ''political hypocrisy'' was earlier proved by the cut in ration quota to this state.

''The Centre, which purchased wheat at Rs 850 per quintal from Indian farmers, is importing it at Rs 1,500-2,100 per quintal,'' he said.

Besides the state capital, senior BJP leaders at Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain and other district headquarters submitted -- to officials -- memoranda addressed to the Centre.

At Rewa district's Mauganj, MP Chandramani Tripathi presented to the sub-divisional magistrate a red roti made from the imported wheat.

UNI SD-AC SYU RN2358