Kharge alleges Rs 1,200 crore ethanol-linked rice scam in Madhya Pradesh

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday alleged that Madhya Pradesh has become the "epicentre of corruption and loot" under the BJP after reports emerged of an alleged ethanol-linked rice scam in the state. In a post on X, he also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the issue and alleged that accountability in public life had been damaged under the BJP's rule.

Kharge cited media reports which alleged that rice meant for ethanol production was being diverted back into the Public Distribution System in Madhya Pradesh.

According to the reports, the state government has set up a Special Investigation Team to probe a suspected multi-crore fortified-rice diversion racket, in which subsidised grain supplied to approved ethanol plants was allegedly sold to private millers and then recycled into government warehouses.

Referring to the reports, Kharge said, "Now, a Rs 1,200 crore rice scam in the name of ethanol has come to light. The very rice that was meant to be used for the nutrition of malnourished children, pregnant women and adolescent girls has been diverted in a game of profit."

He also claimed that 5 lakh MT of rice had become part of this "corrupt game" under the protection of rice millers, the ethanol mafia and the BJP government.

Alleging collusion between the ruling party and the administration, Kharge said, "With the collusion of the BJP and the government machinery, the public's rightful grain is being looted."

He further claimed that a major land scam had surfaced earlier and referred to allegations linked to land expansion in Ujjain in areas where government infrastructure projects and a highway corridor were proposed.

He said these developments had raised questions even over the chief minister, while referring to recent charges against Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav over land purchases in the names of relatives.

Kharge alleged that corruption had spread across departments in the state and said the pattern of "loot" had continued from the time of the Vyapam scam through cases of paper leaks and other allegations of wrongdoing.

He said the BJP had turned Madhya Pradesh into a "model of corruption" and added that "Modiji just sits there in stoic silence" and that the "Modi-Shah duo has trampled the very concept of accountability in public life under the arrogance of power".

The Congress chief's remarks came as the alleged ethanol-linked rice diversion case drew attention in Madhya Pradesh, with Kharge using the issue to attack the BJP government in the state and at the Centre over corruption and accountability.

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