Cong wants CBI probe into paddy scam

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 27

A delegation of the Haryana Congress led by former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today met Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki and submitted a memorandum, demanding an investigation either by a sitting judge of the High Court or the CBI into alleged paddy scam.

Hooda told the media outside the Haryana Raj Bhawan here: “There’s a scandal in the purchase of paddy this season. Crores of farmers have suffered losses because of this.”

“A few days ago, paddy was purchased much below the Minimum Support Price. When farmers have sold most of their produce, it is being purchased for more than Rs3,000 per quintal,” he said.

“The tragic fact is that most of the farmers of the state were paid Rs1,200 per quintal whereas the MSP of paddy is Rs1,450,” Hooda claimed. “The scam of this magnitude is impossible without the connivance, collusion, protection and tacit consent of the government,” the memorandum read.

The delegation urged the Governor to get the scandal inquired by the CBI or a sitting judge of the High Court to ensure justice to millions of farmers of the state and exemplary punishment to the guilty.

Haryana Chief Minister’s media advisor Amit Arya, meanwhile, today said the Congress submitting a memorandum to the Governor was a tactic to grab headlines.

“There is no question of a scam, as paddy has been procured according to a prescribed procedure in a transparent manner. The produce has been procured on as per directions of the Centre because the state agencies buy paddy on its and FCI’s behalf,” he added.