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Former Punjab Chief Minister and BJP leader Captain Amarinder Singh has lashed out at chief minister Bhagwant Mann over the slow paddy procurement in the state, and raised the question on why farmers were not receiving payments on time, despite the Centre having released Rs 44,000 crore for this purpose.
His response came amid the farmers' protest in Punjab against the "tardy" paddy procurement and other issues. "Whatever is happening in Punjab, I was aware of it. I went to a Mandi to see it by myself - people told me that paddy is not being purchased (by the government) and no one is getting money," Amarinder Singh told ANI. "I can't understand why the farmers aren't getting money when the central government has already released Rs 44,000 crore. Money should be given to farmers and paddy must be purchased," he added. Amarinder Singh had on Friday visited Asia's largest grain market in Khanna and met with farmers and arhtiyas (commission agents). He took to his social media platform X to post, "Visited Khanna Dana Mandi today and met with our hardworking farmers, arhtiyas and labourers. Unfortunately they are facing hurdles due a tardy job of procurement planning by @AAPPunjab. govt. I have assured the farmers and Arthiyas that I will urge the central government to intervene to ensure a smoother procurement." Meanwhile, as per reports, farmers have announced that they will resort to a road blockade at a few places in Punjab for an indefinite period from October 26. Chairman of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Krantikari) Punjab, Surjeet Singh Phul spoke to ANI and said, "On October 26, both forums will hold a road blockade at four points. We will begin the protest at 1 pm and sit on the streets." Surjeet Singh Phul said the "chakka jam" for an indefinite period will be held at one place each in Sangrur and Moga districts and at Phagwara and Batala. Farmer leader and Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson, Rakesh Tikait said that the protest has been declared by the farmers in Punjab only. Questioning the government's action against stubble burning, Tikait said the government should tell the farmers, what should they do about stubble (Parali). While talking to ANI, Tikait said, "The government is taking action (on farmers) if stubble is burnt, and in Haryana if any farmer who burns stubble his or her produce will not be sold (at mandis) for two years. Tell me about the technology by which wheat can be grown without burning stubble. The government should tell what should a farmer do about stubble. Protest is by Punjab farmers only till now." On October 22, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann called on the Central Government to assist with paddy procurement, aiming to clear the state's mandis and facilitate wheat production for the upcoming harvest season. "I have spoken to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and requested him to find a solution to the problem of rice millers as soon as possible because all the demands are related to the central government," Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said. Mann expressed that the state government has addressed nearly all the millers' demands regarding Punjab. CM Mann earlier 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 Union Food Minister 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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