BJP alleges rampant corruption in paddy purchase centres in UP

LUCKNOW: With sacks of paddy on their heads, BJP leaders led by party's UP chief Laxmikant Bajpai today held a protest here against the state government alleging "rampant irregularities" at paddy purchase centres.

The BJP leaders alleged that farmers were being forced to sell their produce at a much lower rate because of a nexus between officials and middlemen.

"A fraud is being committed in the name of paddy purchase and because of the connivance of officials and middlemen, farmers are being forced to sell their produce to the middlemen at the rate of Rs 900 per quintal while the government rates are Rs 1360 to Rs 1400," Bajpai said adding that the difference amount is being pocketed by them.

The party leaders marched to the Collectorate with paddy sacks on their head and handed it over to the District Magistrate as a mark of protest.

They also gave a memorandum to the DM demanding action against those responsible for the alleged irregularities.

Bajpai claimed that he along with a team of partymen had yesterday paid a surprise visit to a paddy purchase centre in Mahigava village in Bakshi Ka Talab area of the state capital and detected several irregularities.

"Though the centre was opened on October 1, no purchase had been done there," Bajpai said.