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Maharashtra Soybean Scandal: Minister's Aide Demands Rs 3 Lakh for Procurement Centres

A major corruption scandal has erupted in Maharashtra's assembly over soybean procurement. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar made shocking allegations that a minister's aide was demanding bribes from farmers. The situation grew so heated that opposition members staged a walkout in protest. Now the assembly speaker has ordered a formal investigation into these serious claims.

Key Points: Congress Alleges Minister's OSD Demands Money for Soybean Centres

  • Congress leader alleges OSD demanded bribes to open soybean procurement centres
  • Farmers' quality soybeans are being rejected in Nanded and Yavatmal districts
  • Assembly Speaker orders investigation into the corruption allegations
  • Opposition staged a walkout over government's apathy towards crop procurement issues
3 min read

Minister's OSD demands money to start soybean procurement centres: Maha Congress

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar alleges a Minister's OSD demanded Rs 3 lakh to open soybean procurement centres, prompting a Speaker-ordered probe.

"If the good quality soybeans are being rejected... should the farmers live or die? - Vijay Wadettiwar"

Nagpur, Dec 12

Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Friday in the state assembly alleged that the Minister of Marketing Jayakumar Rawal's Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and a private person from Beed demand Rs 3 lakh to soybean procurement centres in Maharashtra.

He claimed that the soybeans of farmers in the Nanded and Yavatmal districts are being rejected. Taking a serious note, the Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar announced an investigation into the allegations.

Through the Point of Information in the Legislative Assembly, Wadettiwar brought the rejected soybeans of the farmers into the house. He presented the plight of the affected farmers before the Speaker and the Minister.

As soon as the question hour ended, Wadettiwar presented samples of soybeans rejected by farmers in the house, making serious allegations and demanding a solution to this issue.

Former Speaker Nana Patole alleged that the guaranteed price procurement scheme is not for farmers but for traders.

“If the good quality soybeans are being rejected at the soybean procurement centres, should the farmers live or die?” asked Wadettiwar.

He said that the government does not take the questions raised by the opposition on the issue of farmers seriously.

While the session is going on in Vidarbha, he demanded that justice be given to the farmers.

Taking cognisance of this, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar directed to investigation into the allegation that money is being taken for opening a procurement centre.

The Speaker said that measures should be taken after the investigation.

Wadettiwar presented the plight of farmers Gajanan Tanamne, Sanjay Sidkhede, Bhagwati Kindat, Ulhas Kindat, and Gajanan Kindat of Nanded district in the Legislative Assembly.

In the face of a barrage of questions from opposition members, Marketing Minister Jayakumar Rawal tried to respond, but in vain. However, the opposition was ready to listen to him.

Earlier, Opposition members on Thursday staged a noisy walkout protesting against the MahaYuti government’s apathy towards the cotton and soybean growers and anomalies in the procurement, especially amid a rising mismatch between the purchase price and guaranteed price.

Opposition expressed serious displeasure at the Minister of Marketing Jayakumar Rawal's reply during question hour and raised slogans against the state government.

The opposition aggressively cornered the government over the failure to initiate official cotton procurement centres in many parts of the state and the failure to provide a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for soybean.

The opposition members, infuriated by the perfunctory answers given by Minister Rawal on farmers' issues, ultimately staged a walkout.

Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar accused the government’s response of being a "mockery of the farmers."

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
So much for "guaranteed price" schemes. Nana Patole is right, it seems these schemes are only for traders and middlemen, not the actual farmers. When will our farmers get some real relief? The walkout by the opposition was justified. The government's apathy is showing.
D
David E
Reading this from abroad. It's disheartening to see such corruption allegations in agricultural procurement, a sector that's already struggling. A transparent investigation is crucial. The farmers' plight, as presented by Wadettiwar, needs immediate addressing. Hope the probe is impartial.
P
Priyanka N
Wadettiwar's question hits hard: "should the farmers live or die?" Rejecting good quality soybeans is criminal. My uncle is a farmer in Vidarbha, and I've seen the stress firsthand. These procurement centres should be a help, not another hurdle where you have to pay bribes. 😠
A
Aman W
While the allegations are serious and must be investigated, I hope this isn't just political drama during the session. Both sides need to work for a solution. The Minister couldn't even give a proper reply? That's not acceptable. Farmers need answers, not walkouts and slogans.
K
Kavitha C
This is why young people don't want to go into farming. So much struggle, and then you have to deal with corruption at every step. MSP for soybean must be ensured. The names of the affected farmers mentioned – Gajanan Tanamne, Sanjay Sidkhede – their stories matter. Hope they get justice.

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