Haryana's 'No' to Khemka seeking CBI probe- 'Not Competent', says Principal Secretary

Haryana IAS officer Ashok Khemka whose act of cancelling the mutation of land deal between UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra and realty major DLF has recently been found to be "hasty and without due legal examination of the background of the case" by a three-member committee, headed by additional chief secretary (revenue) Krishna Mohan is for another shocker.

When asked to confirm if Khemka had sought CBI probe into alleged purchase of wheat seeds in Haryana at a higher rate than prevailing market rates, Principal Secretary (Agriculture), Roshan Lal said at a hurriedly conveyed press conference at Haryana Niwas this afternoon that "I don't think Khemka is competent to seek a probe against central agencies". It is learnt that the Haryana IAS officer has written a letter to the premier investigation agency- Central Bureau of Investigation to probe purchase of wheat seeds by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited and National Consumers Cooperative Federation.

When asked if Haryana Government had given permission or consented to a CBI probe against NAFED and NCCF, Roshan lal said "No". He went on to say that neither any permission has been given nor was Khemka competent to write to CBI for a probe against these central agencies.

He had a further dig at Khemka and said that for the first time huge quantity of "wheat seeds weighing 99,973 quintals was had not been not been given to farmers". Similarly subsidised sunflower and maize seeds had not reached large number of farmers.

About recent controversy over purchase of fungicide Rexil for treatment of loose smut, flag smut and Karnal bunt raised by Khemka, Roshan Lal who was flanked by another IAS officer, A.K.Singh the Vice-Chancellor of HAU and university experts, said that Haryana is the second largest contributor of food grains to central pool. Wheat which is being grown over 25 lakh hectares is important for food security of the country. He said that Union Government has been advising the states for 100 per cent protection against seed borne diseases. He said that at a meeting held on October 6, 2010 under chairmanship of chief minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and attended by Vice-chancellor, Haryana Agriculture University and other experts, it was decide d to use Raxil for 100 per cent treatment of certified seeds of wheat. He said that rate contract for purchase of Raxil was finalised in the meeting of the High power Purchase Committee. The Haryana Seeds Development Corporation is the nodal agency for the purpose.

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