If paddy is not lifted within 48 hours, we will protest in all the mandis of Punjab: Amarinder Singh Raja Vading
PATIALA: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Amarinder Singh Raja Vading took an extensive tour of village mandis of Patiala district, including Rohti Basta and Nabha grain market of Patiala Rural, to hold discussions with farmers. Regarding the difficulties faced by the farming community in the light of the unresolved issue of paddy procurement and the ongoing strike of rice mill owners. Expressing grief over the damage to the paddy crop due to the long strike, the farmers expressed their grievances to the PPCC chief.
The PPCC chief said, “Farmers in Punjab have already faced a lot of hardships, including the recent floods that have affected the region. “Even after three long months, they are struggling with adverse conditions.” Farmers described their plight as they faced floods, bad weather and the ongoing rice mill owners strike, which is causing their produce to rot in the mandis. Assessing the situation in the mandis, Raja Vading said, “Contrary to the claims made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government that paddy procurement is on track, the ground reality is completely different.
The so-called progress on paper is not commensurate with this.” The bitter truth of the paddy crop rotting in the markets.” Nearly 66% of paddy stock across the state has not been stockpiled due to the continuous strike by rice millers in protest against the Food Corporation of India (FCI) guidelines. Till October 15, only 7.83 lakh tonnes of paddy has been lifted. With harvest underway across the state, the peak in production is expected within a week, leading to shortage of space in mandis for paddy storage.
Addressing the media, Raja Vading stressed, “The current situation has left everyone in a state of crisis, from farmers waiting for procurement to middlemen hoping for an end to the strike. The entire state along with the government is stuck in this vicious cycle.” It appears to focus on unrelated issues. This process generally takes only a month. Due to this situation, Punjab will not be able to celebrate Diwali and Lohri in future, because the economy of our state largely depends on agriculture. “With the festive season approaching, the dilemma that will arise is the inability to celebrate important festivals like Diwali and Lohri, given the immense dependence on agriculture for our state’s economy.”
While continuing his conversation with the media, the PPCC chief gave a suggestion to the state government. He proposed, “Till the ongoing protest ends, why doesn’t the state government take the initiative to procure the produce and store it in government warehouses? “Once the protests subside, the state government can allocate the produce to rice millers, which will facilitate them.”
Concluding his statement, the PPCC chief issued an ultimatum to the state government, urging an early solution. “We extend the deadline by 48 hours. Free the farmers from this crisis so that they can return home. If paddy is not collected within 48 hours, the Congress party will protest in mandis across the state and will not back down until the procurement is expedited. “Now is the time to give priority to the welfare of our farmers over unrelated matters,” Vading said.
