Imported wheat latest symbol of state-Centre row

Continuing with their stand-off, the state and Union governments have made allegations and counter-allegations...

Continuing with their stand-off, the state and Union governments have made allegations and counter-allegations against each other. While the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state Government has accused the Centre of discriminating against it on several grounds —from reducing grants to cutting electricity quota to inadequate supply of commodities meant for PDS — the Congress-led UPA Government has reacted by saying that Madhya Pradesh has got more money from the Centre now than during the NDA regime.

The state has charged the Centre of creating hindrances to the early commissioning of two power plants that are expected to ease demand on power supply. The Centre, on the other hand, has accused the state of irregularities in schemes like the National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme.

The imported red wheat has, in fact, come to symbolise the fight between the state and Central governments. In keeping with its aggressive stand against the Centre, the state Government has announced a bonus of Rs 100 on every quintal of wheat procured from the state. The MP government has argued that the wheat procured from the state is of superior quality. But the grain it gets in return, for PDS supply, is not only inadequate but also unfit for human consumption. MP accounts for a major share of the premium Sharbati variety.

On its part, the Congress has come out with statistics to say that the state’s record on law and order front has been dismal and has cited the recent rise in kidnappings on the highways and other incidents involving the Bajrang Dal. Besides, from the new pradesh committee president Suresh Pachauri to former CM Digvijay Singh, the Congress leaders have released figures to prove the BJP Government wrong. Pachauri has said the state had got a grant of Rs 1,773 in 2003-2004 while in 2006-2007 the figure has gone up to Rs 4,376 crore. “The allegation of discrimination is baseless,” he said, accusing the state of lagging behind in the growth rate prescribed in the 10th Five Year plan.