Pawar Opposes Wheat Imports

Hyderabad: Mr Sharad Pawar, Union Agriculture Minister, has strongly opposed the Centre's decision to import wheat at a higher cost. He said it was important to build a substantial buffer in order to ensure food security. India has enough stocks for distribution via public distribution systems. But we want to build a buffer stock. It is important to have a buffer stock to ensure food security of common man in case we are hit by drought. He indicated that the imports would continue despite high costs in order to ensure food security. The Government had increased the support price by Rs 120 (including a bonus of Rs 20) a quintal as against just Rs 10 during the NDA Government.