The move to secure Nafed bail-out package from the government got a major boost last week when its Vice-Chairman Dileepbhai Sanghani met the Union State Minister Parshottam Rupala along with the Additional Secretary and the Central Registrar in Delhi.
“The Minister had called me to his Parliamentary office but later when the House was adjourned he decided to meet me at his residence”, said Sanghani.
Later they met over lunch. NCUI Vice-Chairman G H Amin was also with him in the lunch.
“As soon as the lunch was over the two senior officials- Additional Secretary and the Central Registrar participated in the meeting. The latest status of the matter was sought by the Minister from the officials”, said Sanghani. The officers sounded sure of putting up the matter for the Cabinet approval next week, added a hopeful Sanghani who was elected Vice-Chairman by the Board on the hope that his proximity with the Govt would ensure smooth sailing for Nafed.
Narrating his efforts so far in the matter Sangani said “I have met the Prime Minister to expedite the Nafed case at
least three times in the past. In the first meeting he was reluctant but our persuasion finally paid off and he agreed to salvage the beleaguered agri-cooperative”, recounted Sanghani who is said to have shared room with Modi for days together during the Gujarat elections in the former days.
Govt engaging with Nafed increased substantially after Sanghani became its Vice-Chairman. A couple of months ago Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh launched a mobile app of Nafed aimed at benefitting not only farmers but also traders at CSOI club in New Delhi.
In the luncheon, Parshottam Rupala told Sanghani that Nafed should get a little more lenient with the creditors for securing fast recovery. If the govt is standing guarantee for Nafed before the banks whom it owes money, Nafed should also be sparing , he is believed to have said.
Sanghani organized a telephonic conversation of the Minister with Nafed Chairman Mr V R Patel and the two discussed the matter. Patel is believed to have assured the Minister that the matter would be put up before the next board meeting.
