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Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi said on Sunday that the Modi government is strongly standing with the farmers of Punjab.
The response of the Union minister came as farmers in Punjab continued their protest for the second day on Sunday to press for multiple demands, including paddy procurement. "In the Modi government, farmers are the top priority. I want to assure you (farmers that) we will buy grains from you and whatever space is needed, we are creating it. We have given priority to Punjab on the highest level for evacuation," Pralhad Joshi told reporters. The Union Minister further said, "When Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann came to me, I gave direction to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) that if there is no space in the godown that has been allotted to them, then FCI would have to immediately take over the transportation. In 2013-2014, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for A grade paddy was Rs 1,345, for the common grade it was Rs 1,310. Today we are paying a total of Rs 2,300. In 10 years, we have increased so much..." He also requested CM Mann to increase the procurement and promised to fulfil their (Centre's) commitments to the farmers. Pralhad Joshi added, "I also request the Chief Minister Mann to speak with the concerned people and increase procurement. We stand by the farmers of the Punjab. The Modi Government is strongly standing with the farmers of Punjab. Whatever commitment we have made, we (Centre) will definitely fulfil that..." CM Mann earlier in the month outlined several demands to the Centre including that the procurement rate for dry harvest be adjusted from 0.5 to 1 per cent. Recently, a critical meeting on paddy procurement in Punjab took place in Delhi, chaired by Prahlad Joshi, Minister of State for Food Ravneet Singh Bittu, and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The meeting aimed to address key issues and strategies for efficient food grain procurement in Punjab.(ANI)
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