PATACHARKUCHI, May 7 - Agriculture Minister Atul Bora has ordered an inquiry into alleged anomalies in the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi and suspended Barpeta District Agriculture Officer Krishna Kanta Pathak with immediate effect from Wednesday.
Huge irregularities have been alleged in the selection of farmer beneficiaries in Bajali subdivision of Barpeta district for the scheme. As the list of beneficiaries who received cash assistance of Rs 6,000 for cultivation work in three installments was put up on the internet, people were surprised to see the list. It has been alleged by residents and various local organisations that many non-farmers and unidentified people have got the chance. Some names were found in the list 2-3 times.
The matter went viral on social media and people here condemned it and demanded a proper inquiry and punishment for the guilty.
Mridul Talukdar, president of the Bajali district unit of the AJYCP, has threatened to launch an agitation if the government fails to inquire into the matter and punish the guilty. Condemning the irregularities, he alleged that in Barbang and Muguria gaon panchayats, some names were included as beneficiaries and there were no such resident in that area.
Some organisations, including KMSS, have submitted petitions demanding justice. Anupal Dutta Pathak, advocate of the Gauhati High Court and president of the All Assam Kalita Janagosthi Students� Union, has even demanded a CBI inquiry into the scam. Giridhar Choudhury, president of the Pathsala Bazar Samiti, has also demanded a proper inquiry.
