NEW DELHI -- Seven months into its term, the Aam Aadmi Party is facing its first corruption allegations.
This morning, #OnionScam is the top trend on Twitter, as many on social media are blaming the Arvind Kejriwal government for selling onions at a higher price, after buying it at a much cheaper rate.
According to reports, an RTI reply has revealed that the AAP government procured onions at a much cheaper price of Rs 18/kg and sold them to the people of Delhi at Rs 30/kg.
RTI documents accessed by Mail Today reportedly reveals that the government procured onions from markets of Nashik in Maharashtra and Indore in Madhya Pradesh through Small Farmer Agri-Business consortium (SFAC) at far lower prices and sold them at a huge profit margin.
The Delhi government's Department of Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs has apparently said in its response to an RTI filed, that the government had purchased 2,511 metric tonnes (25,11,000 kgs) of onions at an average price of Rs 18.57 per kg. This also includes cess and other local expenses.
On social, people are hitting out at Kejriwal.
And now AAP presents, #OnionScam of Swaraj
— शनाया (आरक्षण) (@Sinceere_Angel) September 20, 2015
Somewhere in Delhi
#OnionScampic.twitter.com/RQzAhQ0D91
— Office of बेरोजगार (@SupariTroller) September 20, 2015
Tomorrow i am going on hunger strike against @AamAadmiParty on #OnionScam
@aajtak@ZeeNews@ndtv@TimesNow@abpnewstv@ANI_news
— Shazia Ilmi (@shajiailmibjp) September 20, 2015
However, the government has denied any financial bungling on its part.
Delhi's Food and Supplies Minister Asim Ahmed Khan told Mail Today, "The actual procurement cost is Rs 32.86 per kg. Owing to transportation and labour expenses, it shot up to Rs 40 per kg. The AAP government then decided to subsidise the onion price by another Rs 10 per kg and decided to sell them at Rs 30 per kg."
On Twitter, AAP supporter Vishal Dadlani AAP bought onions for Rs 32.86 and sold to Delhi for Rs 30/Kg.
Rs. 32.86 purchase price. Transport/handling Rs.7/- Yet AAP sold onions to Delhi @ 30/-per kg. Gin lo. #AajTakChorhttps://t.co/6UG6SFF1JB
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) September 20, 2015
He also tweeted the SFAC price-sheet to show that the allegations are not true.
.@TarunSatiya, read the SFAC price-sheet below. #AajTakChor is a paid channel, and this is pure political defamation. pic.twitter.com/zbN1rq0l1Y
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) September 20, 2015
Also Read: Blame it on the Onion: Food and Indian Politics
Also Read: Onion Prices Hit 2-Yr High Of Rs 80/kg, Govt Sends Teams To Check Hoarding, Plans Imports
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