The opposition BJP on Wednesday staged a walkout in the Vidhan Sabha, alleging irregularities in the allotment of shops and CA stores to farmers at three marketing yards by the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) in violation of the 2021 policy.
Raising the issue during Question Hour in the assembly, Naina Devi MLA Randhir Sharma said there were irregularities in the allotment of 70 shops by APMC at very meager rents, in violation of the 2021 Policy, at Prala, Shilaru, and Totu.
“The inquiry was a mere eyewash, and the matter was hushed up, and allotments were not canceled. Applications of only those persons who were to be given shops were kept, while others were rejected. A total of 133 applications for 70 shops had been received,” said Sharma.
Replying to the query, Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar said applications were invited for 34 shops in Prala, 28 in Shilaru, and eight in Totu, and allotments were made to eligible persons as per norms.
“After a detailed inquiry, no irregularities have been found in the allotment, and making vague allegations without proof and specific instances is being done by the opposition merely to make headlines,” the minister said.
Despite repeated assurances by the Agriculture Minister that he would look into the allegations if specific instances were given, a dissatisfied opposition indulged in sloganeering and left the assembly, staging a walkout.
The minister said 25 percent allotment of shops had been made to farmers, 50 percent to arthiyas, 10 percent to OBC, and 15 per cent to SC, ST, and OBCs. Chopal MLA Balbir Verma said shops that were given at marketing yards for Rs 50,000-60,000 rent 10 years back have been given away for a mere Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 rent.
He demanded a vigilance inquiry into the allotment as genuine people have not been given shops, he added.
Condemning the walkout by the BJP, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said the shops were given out at prices higher than the fixed base price of Rs 4,500. “If somebody does not qualify the eligibility criteria, how can shops be given? You cannot make vague allegations of irregularities, so you must provide specific instances,” he said.
Chauhan said that during the BJP regime, HPMC land in Chennai was sold at a throwaway price and a Rs 3 crore cardboard factory at Gumma was sold for a mere Rs 90 lakh.