AAP government under scanner over alleged #OnionScam; Food Minister refutes charges

New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government has come under scanner over an alleged onion scam within seven months after it assumed power.

According to a Zee Media Group Exclusive report, an RTI 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.

The RTI revelation shows that the move is in stark contrast to the Cabinet decision that the government will sell onions at a no-profit-no-loss basis in the National Capital.

The RTI documents accessed by Zee Media reportedly reveals that the government procured onions from markets of Nashik and Indore through Small Farmer Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC) at much lower prices, but sold them at a huge profit margin.

In its reply, the Delhi government's Department of Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs has apparently said 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 warehousing and other local expenses.

However, the government has denied any financial bungling on its part. Ruling out any financial bungling on its part, Delhi’s Food and Civil Supply Minister Aseem Ahmed Khan said that government had procured onions from Small Farmer Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC) at Rs 32.86/kg. He added that owing to transportation and labour expenses, the prices shot up to Rs 40/kg and 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 to the public.

In defence, CM Arvind Kejriwal retweeted @AAPInNews tweet, revealing factual Delhi onion price sheet. 

Factual Delhi Onion Price Sheet. @ArvindKejriwal @msisodia pic.twitter.com/21O6wtadR6 — AAP In News (@AAPInNews) September 20, 2015

Delhi's Food and Supplies Minister Asim Ahmed Khan told Zee Media, "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."

Shortly after the revelation was made, #OnionScam started trending trend on Twitter.

People are hitting out at AAP govt on social media for selling onions at a higher.

Here are some reactions:

And now AAP presents, #OnionScam of Swaraj — शनाया (आरक्षण) (@Sinceere_Angel) September 20, 2015

Somewhere in Delhi #OnionScam pic.twitter.com/RQzAhQ0D91 — Office of बेरोजगार (@SupariTroller) September 20, 2015

BJP leader Shazia Ilmi took to Twitter to confirm that tomorrow she will be kicking-off an hunger strike against the alleged scam.