Punjab CM must compensate rice millers, says leader of Opposition
Punjab Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa has criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for “mismanagement” during the rice procurement crisis, claiming that rice millers face an estimated ₹6,000-crore loss. Bajwa accused Mann of proposing to transport paddy to distant states like West Bengal and Kerala for milling, which he described as “absurd” and logistically impractical. He also attributed the issue to the hybrid PR-126 paddy variety, which yields less rice compared to traditional varieties, stating that Mann promoted it without proper yield testing.
Punjab Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa says rice millers of the state have been staring at an estimated ₹6,000-crore loss. According to rice millers, CM Mann proposed transporting Punjab’s paddy to distant states like West Bengal and Kerala for milling, says Bajwa.
Blaming the state government for “mismanagement” amid the rice procurement crisis, leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa on Sunday said chief minister Bhagwant Mann should immediately compensate Punjab’s rice millers, who are staring at an estimated ₹6,000-crore loss. Bajwa termed CM Mann’s “Plan B” for paddy milling as “Plan Bluff,” accusing the CM of attempting to “mislead” public and drive a wedge between farmers and rice millers.
Bajwa, in a statement, said that according to rice millers, CM Mann proposed transporting Punjab’s paddy to distant states like West Bengal and Kerala for milling. “It’s absurd, both logistically and financially,” he said, adding that the CM was attempting to intimidate the rice millers.
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Bajwa blamed the hybrid PR-126 paddy variety, claiming it yields only 62-kg rice per quintal whereas traditional varieties produce 67 kg. He said Mann promoted this variety without ensuring proper yield testing.
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