The Maharashtra government has decided to withdraw the inferior quality red wheat from the open market following massive scale protests and complaints. The decision was taken amid a campaign run by the opposition against Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who was reportedly behind the import of the wheat. The wheat will be disposed of at the various dumping grounds in the state.
Insisting that the inferior quality wheat was being sold in the open market and not through the Public Distribution System (PDS) as stated by the government, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sunil Tatkare told DNA, “The inferior quality red wheat will be disposed of on priority basis. Currently, the state has a stock of 1,775 tonnes of the wheat.”
Maharashtra had bought 3,028 tonnes of the 70lakh tonnes red wheat imported from Australia six months ago. However, the poor quality of the stock triggered a political storm in the state. In fact, of the 265 samples sent for testing at Konkan Bhavan Public Health Laboratory in Navi Mumbai in April, 229 were found unfit for human consumption. Following that some samples were sent for testing to New Delhi, but with similar results.
The BJP and Shiv Sena have already launched a massive campaign against the red wheat. While BJP leader Kirit Somaiya filed a special petition in the Maharashtra Human Rights Commission last week, the Shiv Sena was planning to include the issue in their morcha on inflation, scheduled for Thursday. Women workers from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane are to participate in the morcha under the leadership of Sena leader Neelam Gorhe.
Criticising Pawar, opposition leader Ramdas Kadam held him responsible for the financial loss incurred due to the inferior quality wheat. In a press conference on Wednesday, he said, “And it has happened because of Pawar who initiated import of the wheat.”
“The wheat was imported for Rs8 per kilo, but the government is earning commission by selling it for Rs16 per kilogram,” he alleged.
However, Kadam was on the backfoot when asked whether he will demand Pawar’s head. “Now, it is the people who will ask him to step down,” he said.
Sena MP Sanjay Raut said although Pawar had clarified through a letter to all the MPs having no role in importing the wheat, he expressed doubts about the authenticity of Pawar’s statement.
Raut said, “In the current scenario, one cannot trust any minister. Agriculture and finance ministries are responsible for the inflation, which has become a cause of worry for the ordinary citizens.”
