Charuni alleges scam, demands CBI investigation

Alleging a major paddy scam in Haryana, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) on Saturday demanded a CBI inquiry and action against the officials and rice millers responsible for irregularities in the procurement process.

A meeting of the state body of the union was held at Jat Dharmashala in Kurukshetra. Later, the union members took out a protest march and submitted a memorandum and a complaint to SDM Pehowa Abhinav Siwach.

BKU (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni said, “Despite a decline of around 25 per cent in yield due to waterlogging and diseases, more paddy stocks than the previous year are reaching the grain markets. Union members have caught trucks carrying rice and paddy from other states, but no action has been taken by the departments concerned. We suspect that rice meant for PDS from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar is being brought to Haryana to be adjusted against bogus procurement.”

In the memorandum submitted for Chief Minister, the union has demanded immediate physical verification of the rice mills, CBI inquiry in the paddy procurement, increase in the sugarcane prices to Rs 500 per quintal and MSP guarantee on all crops.