Political adviser to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Ahmed Patel, has written to Gujarat Chief Minister Anandi Patel asking her to look into the alleged "improper utilisation" of central subsidy by the Gujarat State Fertiliser and Chemicals Pvt Ltd (GSFC).
"I am in receipt of a memorandum dated March 13, 2013 issued by Department of Fertilisers, Government of India. The memorandum raises a disturbing question regarding appropriate utilisation of subsidy which GSFC has received from the central government for the sale of ammonium sulphate," Patel said in his letter to the chief minister.
"The memorandum has directed GSFC to refund all subsidies it has received since April 1, 2010, under the nutrient-based subsidy policy (NBSP), since the company has not passed the benefits of the subsidy on to the farmers," he said.
"According to the memorandum, even after receiving the subsidy, GSFC did not lower its maximum retail price (MRP) on ammonium sulphate. If true, it constitutes a serious breach on the part of GSFC towards the people of Gujarat and, particularly, to our farmers," he said.
"I urge you to have this matter examined and inquired into at the earliest," he added.
In another letter, Patel also raised the issue of suffering of potato farmers of Gujarat as prices are down by 60 per cent this year as compared to last year. He urged the state government to immediately intervene and provide relief to potato farmers.
