New Delhi: The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has issued a statement saying that wheat is being procured from farmers at three centres in Delhi's FSD Mayapuri, FSD Narela and APMC Najafgarh Mandi, adding that they have been operational from April 1. FCI Delhi has so far purchased 15.8 MT wheat from FSD Narela present near Narela mandi and that farmers have also been paid following the transactions.
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FCI said that procurement operation in APMC Najafgarh is going on a faster note and that on April 9, 18.05 MT wheat had been purchased from three farmers and a video of the same has been released. The FCI had made it clear that all allegations made by the Agricultural Minister Gopal Rai in Delhi are baseless.
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A dispute has been going on between the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and the Government of Delhi. Amidst accusations and counterattacks, Gopal Rai had demanded the central government to direct FCI to set up counters in the markets of Narela, Najafgarh and start procuring wheat from farmers at the minimum support price.
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Reacting to Gopal Rai's allegations, FCI had responded saying that wheat is being procured in three centres of Delhi - FSD Mayapuri, FSD Narela and APMC Najafgarh, adding that the counters are open. Later, when Gopal Rai visited Narela Mandi, he alleged that no counter has been set up nor any purchase has been made in the mandis and that the claims made by the FCI are false.
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It was then that the FCI released a video showing wheat being procured and counters having been set up at FSD Narela Mandi and Najafgarh Mandi.
