In a press statement today, Ram Bhaj said: ``There is a lot of corruption in the method of purchase of pulses at the higher level.''

``Instead of making purchases of pulses from the government and the open market, the Super Bazar was floating tenders. The tender is limited and the same set of people take part in the deals,''the BJP MLA said.

``Earlier the practice was to call for the fortnightly tenders but of late these tenders are being extended due to connivance of the senior officials and the traders,'' he said.

He demanded a high-level inquiry into the purchase of pulses and said that the Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs have also failed on the front of consumer protection.

Giving statistics, he said that in 1997-98 Super Bazar suffered a loss of Rs 3 crore which shot up to Rs 8 crore during 1998-99 and sales have gone down.

``On the contrary, the profits in the Kendriya Bhandar have increased over the years and their sales have gone up,'' he said, and pointed out saying that the prices of pulses in Kendriya Bhandar are also much lower than the Super Bazar.

He regretted that a situation had arisen where the premises of Super Bazar were being offered for rentals and begging people to run its branches.