Paddy procurement crisis: Punjab CM invites protesting farmers, rice millers, arhtiyas for talks
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has invited farmer unions, rice millers, and commission agents for talks amidst ongoing protests over delays in paddy procurement. Protesters, including members of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, have been heading towards Chandigarh but report being stopped by police at various points. Farmers are protesting the lack of storage space in mandis, millers have refused to process paddy, and commission agents are demanding their commission rate be restored to 2.5% of the paddy MSP.
The members and leaders of farmer unions and associations of arhtiyas and rice millers have left for protest from all over Punjab and are headed towards Chandigarh
Ahead of the protest march by leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, rice millers and commission agents against the tardy paddy procurement, various union leaders have been invited for talks by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday evening.
The members and leaders of farmer unions and associations of arhtiyas and rice millers have left from all over Punjab and are headed towards Chandigarh. However, the leaders are alleging that they are being stopped by the police on the outskirts of the city.
Raminder Singh, an SKM leader, said that several farmers coming with him had been stopped at the Airport Road. “Many others, including Balbir Singh Rajewal, have been stopped at Bhago Majra,” he said, adding that a decision on the protest march to the CM’s residence would be taken once all stakeholders reached Kisan Bhawan.
All three stakeholders in the paddy procurement–farmers, rice millers and commission agents–have been protesting since the paddy procurement season began. While farmers are alleging harassment saying no space was available to keep paddy in mandis, millers have refused to mill the paddy, though they have agreed to give their space to the government to keep the paddy.
Commission agents, on the other hand, are demanding that their commission be restored at 2.5 per cent of the paddy MSP. It was capped at Rs 46 per quintal a few years ago
