New Delhi: With less than a month left for Gujarat to go to polls, the BJP on Monday accused Congress’ election in-charge of the state and senior leader Ashok Gehlot’s brother of being involved in a scam during the UPA rule, saying that his company allegedly exported subsidised fertiliser that was meant for domestic consumption.
Citing a media report, which alleged that Mr Gehlot’s brother Agrasain Gehlot was involved in a scam involving diversion of a crucial ingredient used in fertilisers, the BJP said the company of former Rajasthan chief minister’s brother allegedly exported subsidised fertiliser that was meant for domestic consumption.
Senior BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the Congress often tries to project itself as messiah of farmers asked the Congress top brass, including its vice-president Rahul Gandhi, but will it take action against those who had “stolen the farmer’s rights”.
Citing a media report, Mr Javadekar said that muriate of potash, a fertiliser imported by the country for farmers, was exported by the firm of Mr Gehlot’s brother during the UPA rule after claiming subsidy from the Centre on it.
“This is a clear case of theft of subsidy and all this happened between 2007 to 2009, when Congress-led UPA was in power at the Centre and during the period Gehlot had also assumed charge as the Rajasthan chief minister,” Mr Javadekar said.
He alleged that the cheaper rate at which the fertiliser was exported, raises doubts that it could be a case of “money laundering”.
Mr Javadekar said that this “fertiliser scam” case came into limelight after custom officials caught its consignment, as the potash is meant for domestic consumption and its export is restricted.
