from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Jun 27: Union agriculture ministry has curtailed Goa's wheat quota allotment drastically triggering protest by opposition BJP in the state.

Senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament Shripad Naik has alleged that the union agriculture ministry has curtailed Goa's monthly quota of wheat from 3,000 tonne per month to 201 tonne.

"No one knows the reason... Even Food Corporation of India (FCI) does not know why the quota was curtailed," commented Naik, who heads FCI's state vigilance committee.

"Goa has a great demand for wheat... For last one year, the quota has been curtailed drastically forcing the business houses like bakeries to buy from open markets," Naik said.

FCI's State Vigilance Committee met Monday morning and decided to write to the union agriculture ministry to restore the quota.

"Whatever available to Goa is much less than the requirement. Enquiries with civil supplies department revealed that Goa requires 2,300 tonne wheat every month," he said.