Last week the Board meeting of the apex agri-cooperative NAFED proved stormy with the government nominee Ashok Thakur arguing if the Banks have not been cautious in giving loans in the past they should suffer.
But Nafed Directors from Vice Chairman Bijender Singh to Sunil Singh found this argument unpalatable. An individual does not take loan and liabilities are transferred from one management to other, said Bijender Singh responding to a query from Indian Cooperative. What Bank has done is its headache; the fact remains that Nafed did take a loan and the succeeding management has obligations to repay the same, he added.
Sunil Singh, Biscomaun Chairman and a Board member of NAFED said “what the government nominee said was impractical. No one can deny that NAFED owes money to banks and sooner it is repaid the better for the agri-cooperative”, he contended.
Readers would recall that in the wake of the tie-up losses, the Nafed became debtor to several banks to the tune of several hundred crores and the cooperative behemoth has since been struggling to repay the loan amount by selling its properties after the government washed its hands off.
Talking to Indian Cooperative Ashok Thakur said since the bank people were hand in glove with the scamsters why should we re-pay them. Thakur also raised the issue of Army Purchase Order scam (APO) and complained that his letter on this was not kept on the agenda. He accused a supplier of bungling in the matter.
NAFED Vice-Chairman Bijender Singh said that APO scandal is well known as a thorough CBI enquiry was conducted in the matter. It is resting in the court of Registrar now. I fail to understand the logic of raising it in the board, Singh said to Indian Cooperative.
On Ashok Thakur query as to why can he not become the member of business committee when the government fund is involved, Bijender shot back: is it written in any constitution that a govt nominee would be made member of business committee?
The Board meeting also had many other irritable points such as acquittal of G M Ajay Khosala by the Executive Committee, to which Thakur protested. What does Ashok Thakur want; there was a minor case of irregularity of Rs 300-400 by Khosala. He was given simple warning and allowed to go by the executive committee. What is the problem, Bijender Singh argued.
On the question of re-opening of cases against the acquittal of the then Business Committee members as demanded by Thakur, Sunil Singh Biscomaun Chairman said “it is not done the way he wants. I also raised the issue and everyone agreed that after all someone is responsible for the loss of Rs 1800 crores. Nafed which has been found competent to hold the enquiry must seek legal opinion to proceed on the matter, I suggested, “ contended Sunil.
Bijender Singh pooh-poohed this by saying that the Appellate Authority itself felt that the trial is not possible under section 181. If the government or Nafed wants it can start trial under some other Act, the Authority have ruled, said the Vice-Chairman.
