In the wake of Madhya Pradesh Government criticising the Central Government for the alleged poor quality of imported wheat supplied through the PDS system in the state, Union Minister for Agriculture, Food and Consumer Affairs Sharad Pawar on Friday hit back saying unhappy states should either source the grain themselves or keep their entire procurement without seeking anything from the Centre.“We have suggested two formulae to unhappy states in this regard,” said Pawar. Either these states should purchase the foodgrain themselves, including import, and get subsidy from the Centre for the price differential under the PDS or they can keep the entire procurement with themselves and not ask for anything from the Central pool, he said on the sidelines of a FICCI function in the Capital. Pawar’s statement comes after several states, including Madhya Pradesh, complained to the Centre about the quality of wheat as majority of imported wheat is reddish. But the Central Government has been telling the states that there was no quality issue involved other than the fact that a substantial part of the imported wheat is reddish in colour.“You procure and keep the entire quantity with yourself (for PDS requirement) without giving to the Central pool,” he said.
