BJP seeks CBI probe to expose Left-PDS
dealers nexus in WB

The BJP on Wednesday demanded that a CBI probe should be ordered to expose nexus among Left-Front activists, PDS shop owners and the administration in West Bengal.

There were several instances of attack on rations shops in various parts of the State on Tuesday.

The party said that the "ration riots" also indicated that there was complete breakdown of civic surveillance system and so-called monitoring committees that comprised only "interested parties".

The Left cadre were themselves PDS dealers or collectors of hafta, the BJP said. A BJP spokesman claimed that citizens of West Bengal were convinced that there was nexus among Left cadres, PDS shop owners and the administration that was solely responsible for the disappearance of food grains from PDS and its diversion elsewhere.

"Food and Civil Supplies Minister Paresh Adhikari has admitted to large-scale diversion of food grains from ration shops. A CBI probe is needed," the BJP demanded.

The party also asked the Government to increase the MSP for paddy to Rs 1000 in order to avert imminent crisis of rice in near future.

"The demand is justified as rice is the main staple food for more than 600 million people in the country and also the second important staple food for the remaining population of the country," the BJP said.