New Delhi, July 30 The Government today refuted allegations of a “scam” in the export of non-basmati rice to African countries even while assuring the agitated Opposition members that it would examine some cases where the State-owned trading agencies had infringed certain conditions set out in the notification for such exports.
5 Countries
Responding to a calling attention motion moved by BJP member, Mr Arjun Charan Sethi, in the Lok Sabha and four other members including the CPI(M) leader, Mr Basudeb Acharia, the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Anand Sharma, said the actual export of non-basmati rice was completed only in respect of transactions with five African countries — Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius, Sierra Leone and Ghana. He said the total quantity exported was a mere 1.22 lakh tonnes against the Government’s authorisation of release of 13.5 lakh tonnes on diplomatic grounds.
Circumventing ban
Mr Sharma said media reports that “greedy exporters used needy African countries to circumvent the ban on rice exports” was at “serious variance” with the factual position.He said the total procurement value of rice actually exported was about Rs 170 crore, even as the export of non-basmati rice in relaxation of the ban was fully authorised by the Government keeping in view the close ties with the African countries.
However, Mr Sharma conceded that it has in some cases noticed infringement of certain conditions contained in the DGFT notifications for export by the PSUs. “This matter is being looked into. Enquiries will be held, responsibility will be fixed and remedial action shall be taken,” he added.
The Minister also stated that the transactions completed were intended to be concluded on a commercial basis. He said the Governments of the African countries had not pleaded with the Government of India for release of non-basmati rice as aid or grant. It was always “a request for an outright sale. Since all were commercial transactions, the PSUs and the domestic suppliers booked profits.”
“Don’t trivialise”
But the entire Opposition seeking a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe or CBI inquiry into the “scam,” was dissatisfied and trooped out of the House in protest, after the Minister rejected its demand stating that the Government should be given the opportunity to inquire on its own.
The Leader of the Opposition, Mr L.K. Advani said: “We are not sensationalising. But we ask the Government not to trivialise the matter. We are not satisfied with the response and are staging a walk-out”.
Source : Business Line