Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 19:
Agriculture Minister Ph Parijat has submitted all the relevant documents to Law Secretary A Sukumar today for taking up necessary legal action against MSCP president M Hemanta who had charged him with corruption in selling fertilisers to the farmers.
Informing this while talking to The Sangai Express today, Parijat said that the charges levelled by Hemanta was malicious and intended not only to tarnish his reputation but also the image of the ruling SPF Government.
Hemanta cannot run away now just by saying that whatever he had done and said was a democratic pressure on the Government for the sake of the farmers, Parijat said.
Everyone has democratic rights.
But it does not mean that he can simply level serious and baseless charges on the Government or on the-Minister who has been discharging his duty with sincerity for the welfare of the farmers, Parijat observed.
Reacting to the remarks of Hemanta who compared the alleged frequent changes in the arrangement for distribution of fertilisers to farmers with that of the abortive and fickle policy adopted by Mohammad Bin Tughlaq, Parijat asserted that there has been no change in the policy for distribution of the fertiliser.
MLAs had never distributed fertiliser to the farmers.
It was done by the dealers in the presence of the MLAs.
Even at the police station, the fertilisers were distributed to the fanners by the dealers concerned with the MLAs and the police only extending their assistance, explained Parijat.
Parijat clarified.
The malicious charges levelled by someone like Hemanta, who does nothing but pretends to love the farmers was intended to mislead the people, he countered.
The present fertiliser shortage is the fallout of the recent ANSAM-sponsored economic blockade along the NHs, and not created by the Govt he asserted, adding that he being a representative of CPI which stands for the welfare of the villages and farming community he has been doing everything possible to ameliorate the problem of the farmers.
The Agriculture Minister further informed that private parties have started lifting fertilisers from Silchar with the help of DI Tatas, Tata 407, etc.
In all 11 vehicles carrying fertiliser have arrived from Jiribam today and another 7 vehictes would also be arrived from Dimapur side tonight.
He also informed around 70 vehicles would be reaching Namrup fertiliser factory for lifting Urea tomorrow afternoon, over and above some 60-70 vehicles which are already there loading fertiliser.
Meanwhile, representatives of AMUCO today called on Agriculture Minister at his office.