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Congress demands CBI probe into sugar import

The Congress today demanded a CBI probe into the role of state agencies in the import of sugar from Pakistan and wheat from Australia this year when the country had excess domestic production thus warranting no imports.

Talking to newspersons, Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal ridiculed Prime Minister A B Vajpayee's claim that sugar imports were done by private traders since the commodities had come under the open general license and sugar in fact was canalised into the country by the state-owned Project Equipment Corporation all through last year.

Citing a specific instance, Sibal said the PEC as a canalising agency had imported sugar for a company called JS Overseas from Pakistan in March and April this year and hence the prime minister's claim that the government had no knowledge did not wash.

The Congress spokesperson said the government had also resorted to large-scale import of wheat from Australia ignoring a suggestion from the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations.

The deal was struck by the State Trading Corporation and wheat was dumped on the Food Corporation of India, which resisted it. About 1.5 million tonnes of imported wheat is lying in various godowns in southern ports where the consumption for the cereal is low, Sibal claimed.

Meanwhile, addressing an election meeting in Ujjain, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today lashed out at the BJP-led coalition government, saying that it had betrayed the nation by importing sugar from Pakistan and thereby helping the enemy.

She said the present government had belied the promises it had set forth before the people.

Attacking the BJP, Sonia said the new telecom policy and the sugar scam exemplified its corrupt character.

Describing the Vajpayee government ''superficial and irresponsible,'' Sonia said the BJP which had been highlighting the issue of morality had compromised all norms and values to stick to power.

UNI

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