Bhopal: Former CM Digvijay Singh has alleged that the government was forcing PDS customers to buy 50-kg onion and mandating SHGs running midday meal programmes to buy 1,000-kg onion.
In a letter to CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday, Singh said collectors had been instructed to somehow dispose of the huge stocks of onions the government had procured and had nowhere to keep. “It has been instructed that every person coming to buy ration from the fair price shop should be given at least 50-kilogram onion. Those who refuse to accept the onions at the rate of Rs 2 per kg, are not given wheat, rice and other PDS commodities. The people are not taking the onion because it is rotten and also very small in size,” he wrote.
The self-help group involved in mid-day-meal scheme were being forced to buy at least four bags of 250 kilogram each of onion. “What will happen to the kids served this rotten onion?” he asked.
He also alleged traders were earning huge money in selling the onion to the government, because they were purchasing the onion and selling to the government in Rs 8 and again they were purchasing back in Rs 2 from the government.
Meeting with CM
On June 27, various organisations will meet the chief minister and submit a memorandum. President of Kisan Sabha, Jasvinder Singh alleged farmers of the state were facing various problems and the CM’s fast had not helped them. Around two dozen organisations, including Narmada Bachao Andolan, Kisan Majdoor Sangh, Roko Toko Krantikari Morcha, Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha will march towards CM House to submit the memorandum.
