In the midst of allegations of a scam in wheat imports, Union Agriculture and Food  Minister Sharad Pawar has come under scanner over fresh complaints that the imported wheat supplied for distribution under the Public Distribution System (PDS) is of poor quality.

The Prime Minister’s Office is understood to have asked for a detailed report from the Food Ministry in the wake of complaints received from Pawar’s home state of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh that the imported wheat supplied to the two states for PDS was of substandard quality. 

Last Friday, PMO summoned Food Ministry officials for consultations over the complaints from the two states and instruct them to submit a report detailing results of sample tests and corrective measures proposed to be taken to ensure quality supplies for PDS. The Prime Minister is leant to be none too happy about the situation.

‘Red is not poor quality’
The Food Ministry officials are, however, learnt to have maintained that the wheat distributed under PDS was of good quality and attributed the complaints to the colour of imported wheat – red – that was imported from Armenia. They also impressed the PMO that wheat grown in Eastern Europe and Russia during summer was of red colour.

However, the PMO is learnt to have insisted that the Ministry must ascertain if all norms laid down for importing wheat was followed or not.

The Food Ministry officials who held a high level meeting on Monday, have since decided to check samples of wheat from ration shops in both the states from where a very large number of complaints were received.

Besides, the Ministry has also asked Food Corporation of India (FCI),  nodal agency to procure grain, to inquiry if the 12 quality checking norms were followed while importing wheat.

PDS beneficiaries in the two states have even refused to buy the red wheat. The Opposition BJP in Maharashtra has sought to capitalise on the public displeasure by alleging that the red wheat which was meant for animals in Australia.

Under fire
Pawar is already under Left and BJP fire over import of wheat at high prices. CPM has written to the Prime Minister, demanding an inquiry into alleged scam in the imports and this has prompted the Government to temporarily suspend imports. Pawar though is not happy with the suspension decision.