Hyderabad, December 28: Former Minister & ex-Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Monday demanded a high-level probe into the purchase and sale of various crops by the State Government.
“Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao’s claim of the State Govt suffering losses of nearly Rs. 7,500 crore due to the purchase of various crops is highly suspicious. He is apparently trying to cover up a major scam by claiming losses,” Shabbir Ali said in a media statement. He said that the State Government did not do a favor by purchasing the crops at Minimum Support Prices (MSP). However, TRS leaders have indulged in a major scam by selling away those crops at lower prices by citing lack of demand. “It is highly ridiculous to say that there was no demand for Paddy, Sorghum, Maize, Red gram, Bengal Gram, Sunflower, etc., Their prices in the retail market should have dropped significantly if there was no demand,” he added.
Shabbir Ali said that the State Government should release a White Paper, along with the complete break-up of various crops procured from the farmers and the list of the buyers. “We strongly suspect that the TRS leaders, members of Rythu Bandhu Samithis, officials of Agriculture and other relevant departments have colluded to sell the agricultural produce at cheaper rates to selective buyers so as to create huge losses to the State’s exchequer. A high-level probe should be ordered into both procurement and sale of all crops by the State Government in the last season,” he demanded.
He also suspected that the TRS leaders, in connivance with some officials, might have inflated the figures of agricultural produce and swindled hundreds of crores, by showing the sale of non-existent crops. He said all the details would come out if a high-level probe is ordered into the procurement and sale of various crops.
The Congress leader said that the Chief Minister’s statement, issued on December 27, was quite humiliating for the farmers. “CM KCR has enacted the drama of opposing new farm bills of BJP Govt. However, he changed his stand after his recent visit to Delhi and as always, he took a U-turn from his stand. KCR has openly stated that it was not possible to set up a purchasing center in the village from next year onwards. CM KCR also claimed that the new Farm Laws being implemented in the country allowed the farmers to sell their crop anywhere. Hence, the state government need not set a purchasing center in the villages and as there is no need. This statement has proved that TRS was enacting the drama of opposing new farm laws and KCR has now openly announced that his government would implement the new anti-farmer laws,” he said.