Mumbai (TOI): The Sharad Pawar-led NCP on Thursday blamed food and civil supplies minister Girish Bapat for the spiralling prices of pulses and called the steps taken by the government a Rs 2,000 crore scam.

"It's a Rs 2,000 crore scam," NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik told TOI. "Tur dal worth Rs 2,000 crore seized from leading traders was handed over to them again in blatant violation of rules, which empower the government to sell it (seized foodstuff) at reasonable prices through the public distribution system."

Malik said the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act put it within the powers of the state government to dispose of seized goods at a reasonable price, but the food and civil supplies department that seized nearly 1lakh metric tonnes of tur dal did not sell it through the PDS for reasons that were an open secret.

"Had the government made available the seized pulses through the PDS, prices of pulses would have remained under control," Malik said.

He said that in February 2010 the previous government had prescribed stringent rules for storing essential commodities, resulting in restrictions on stocking of foodgrains.

In April this year, just months after BJP-led Devendra Fadnavis government took over, all the restrictions were revoked and traders permitted to stock an unlimited quantity of pulses.

Malik said that on June 10 this year the Narendra Modi-led NDA government had alerted all state governments about the possibility of a sharp rise in prices of essential commodities as the festive season was coming up.

The Centre had asked all states to initiate stringent measures to ensure ample availability of essential commodities in both the PDS and the open market. On June 17, the Centre sent a reminder to all states.

"Prima facie, it appears that the food and civil supplies department failed to act on Centre's warning, as a result, tur dal, which was supposed to be available for Rs 70 to Rs 80 per kg, is being sold for Rs 180 to Rs 200 per kg," Malik said.