In the face of mounting attack from its Left partners and the Opposition over an alleged scam in wheat imports, the UPA Government on Wednesday said it did not plan to go ahead with any fresh imports.

Union Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar, who is in the thick of the controversy over wheat imports, told newsmen on Wednesday that “we have enough stocks to meet domestic demand. We are not planning any fresh imports as of now.”

He said the Government had decided to “go slow” (on import of wheat) and would carefully watch the situation, including international market prices, and assess the requirement of stock releases to various states.

The Government’s earlier decision to import 13 lakh tonnes of wheat has been questioned by the BJP and Left parties which have smelt a scam in the import decision on the ground that no assessment had been made about the stock situation in the country while also ignoring the cost of imports in view of high international market price.
According to Pawar, “whatever policy decisions we had adopted, we would be able to manage it and if required we would review those decisions. But as on date, there is no (import) requirement.”

The allegations of a scam had its origins in the Government’s decision to scrap an international tender in which bidders quoted a rate of $ 263 a tonne.

But soon thereafter, the Government controversially finalised a fresh contract to import over 13 lakh tonnes at a price ranging between $325 and $390 per tonne.

The Minister replied in the negative when asked whether the Government contemplated in terms of procuring wheat from private traders.