Cong alleges ₹4k-cr paddy purchase scam in Majha

The Opposition Congress on Friday alleged a ₹4,000-crore scam in paddy procurement payments to farmers in the Majha region and called for the formation of a House committee to probe the matter.

- Navneet Sharma

CHANDIGARH:

Former minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa led the attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the assembly on the final day of the budget session. In the absence of Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, who is AAP’s state chief, defended the government.

Rejecting all allegations, he said that neither the government nor the department had received any written complaints regarding this matter.

Fatehgarh Churian MLA Tript Bajwa brought up the matter during the zero hour, alleging a ‘loot’ in paddy purchase in Majha.

He said there were allegations that farmers were paid between ₹1,700 and ₹2,100 per quintal for the produce which was billed at Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹2,300 per quintal by procurement agencies.

“It is a ₹4,000 crore (scam),”

LoP Partap Singh Bajwa demanded that a House committee be constituted to probe the matter.