Mahoba (Uttar Pradesh): A BJP-MLA reached here after he received complaints that government wheat procurement centres have been illegally charging from farmers to accept their crop under the government purchase scheme.
The BJP MLA Brajbushan Rajput disguised himself as a farmer to carry out a surprise inspection at some of those centres in the town to confirm the news.
As per reports, it was revealed when he reached at Charkhari procurement centre along with the sample of wheat and the centre in charge demanded money from him to sell the produce.
"I talked to everyone at the centre in Bundelkhandi language so that no one could identify me. As the in-charge was not at the office, I talked to him over the phone. As soon as I told him that I have brought the sample and I have to sell 250 quintals of wheat. He said, first he will check the sample and then tell me the amount," Rajput added.
"It was revealed that wheat from only those farmers, who were paying a said amount of commission to middlemen, was being purchased," he said.
Later, the BJP MLA revealed his identity and warned the middlemen at the procurement centre for illegally charging from farmers.
Meanwhile, he has forwarded a report regarding the illegal levy to the government to initiate stern action against those guilty.
The minister further said that this corrupt practice of procurement officers discourage farmers from taking their crops to these centres and affecting the wheat stock available with the government.
"CCTV cameras should be installed at the procurement centre. Farmers are being cheated at government wheat procurement centres, where wheat is not being weighed as per the norms. Farmers are the backbone of our country and they should be treated with honour," he concluded.
Also read: Bar Council seeks regular court sittings from June
