Congress backs joint stir by arhtiyas, millers, SKM

Partap Singh Bajwa, Leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha, has announced that the Congress will support the joint agitation call given by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), commission agents and rice millers in protest against the “tardy” paddy procurement.

Addressing a press conference here today, he said paddy was the major cash crop in the state. About 5,500 rice shellers in the state faced monetary duress last year and similar challenges were being encountered this year as well.

About 185 lakh metric tonne (LMT) paddy arrives in mandis across the state every year. Yesterday, the mandis in the state received about 1 LMT paddy, but the authorities did not have enough space to store it, he added. He said the Punjabis were paying the price of sending inexperienced and unqualified MLAs to the Assembly.