Alleging nexus among some Maharashtra politicians in selling sugar factories to private players by deliberately declaring them distressed, social activist Anna Hazare today demanded a judicial inquiry into these transactions.
"These factories were deliberately declared sick and sold to private players. We demand that a judicial committee be appointed to probe into the selling and purchasing of the 40 such factories," Hazare told reporters in a joint presser with Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar.
Inspite of a Government Order (GO) restraining selling of sugar factories in red to private firms, a sugar factory was sold to a politician recently, he said.
"...The state government wants to bring the curtain down on cooperative sector in the state. Though 35 sugar factories were allocated to run on the lease in last eight years, none of them registered profit," Hazare said.
Alleging a conspiracy, the anti-graft crusader said politicians cutting across the party lines ensured the control of such factories by entering into dubious deals with some private players in order to "convert their black money into white".
Patkar alleged the valuation of 40 sugar factories that have been sold runs into Rs 10,000 crore, "and it is just a tip of very big scam".
She said a protest march comprising farmers would be carried out on Mantralaya here tomorrow for redressal of their various demands.
