Heated exchanges in Himachal house on pulses scheme

Shimla, March 28 (IANS) Heated exchanges were witnessed between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress in Himachal Pradesh assembly Wednesday over alleged lapses in distribution of subsidised pulses. The case is being probed by the state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau.

Congress legislator Mukesh Agnihotri alleged that Industries Minister Kishan Kapoor wasted the time of the house by stretching his reply on another issue, ensuring that the question on pulses did not come up in the house despite it being listed for the question hour.

This was followed by heated exchanges between members of the BJP and the Congress.

Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Ramesh Dhawala, in written reply, said the state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau is probing the pulse scam.

Speaker Tulsi Ram asked Agnihotri to give a separate notice for discussion on the issue.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal assured the house that the government did not want to hide anything and was ready for discussion.

Dhawala said the civil supplies corporation, which was providing three pulses, two edible oils and salt to over 11 lakh people at subsidised prices, procured 51,000 metric tonnes of pulses every year, costing Rs.180 crore.