Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday, 11 June urged Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to order a high-level inquiry into alleged irregularities in the sale and distribution of fertilisers across the state. Singh claimed that farmers in multiple districts are being charged above the printed Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for fertilisers including DAP, SSP, and other complex variants.

What Singh Alleged

According to Singh, complaints received from farmers and farmer organisations indicate that old fertiliser stocks are being offloaded through Point of Sale (POS) machines and e-token systems at revised — and higher — rates. He cited a specific instance where a 50-kg bag of fertiliser, previously priced at around ₹1,450, is reportedly being sold at certain locations for nearly ₹2,100 — an increase of roughly 45% above the earlier price.

'Farmers have complained that fertilisers available in old stock are being sold at increased prices. This is putting an additional financial burden on farmers,' Singh said.

Legal Basis for the Demand

Singh pointed out that selling fertilisers above their printed MRP violates the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985 and the Essential Commodities Act. He argued the issue extends beyond price escalation to questions of transparency and farmers' rights. He called for district-level verification of complaints, a special statewide inquiry into fertiliser distribution, and strict action against officials and dealers found guilty.

'Complaints of overcharging and the sale of old stock at revised rates should be investigated. Farmers who have paid excess amounts should be compensated, and those responsible should face action,' he said.

A Repeat Escalation

Notably, this is the second time within a week that Singh has raised the matter with the state government. On 9 June, he had written to the Chief Minister alleging black marketing of fertilisers and irregularities in their distribution. The back-to-back interventions signal a sustained political push by the Congress ahead of what is a critical kharif sowing season, when fertiliser demand peaks across Madhya Pradesh.

Agriculture at Stake

Madhya Pradesh is one of India's largest agricultural states, with farming forming the backbone of its economy. Singh stressed that farmers are already grappling with rising input costs and market uncertainties, making any additional financial burden from overpriced inputs particularly damaging. Critics argue that the alleged misuse of digital distribution infrastructure — POS machines and e-token systems introduced to improve transparency — represents a systemic failure that warrants immediate government attention.

The state government is yet to formally respond to Singh's latest demand. Whether Chief Minister Mohan Yadav orders a probe will be closely watched by farmer groups across the state.