Farmers continue protest over tardy paddy purchase

Under the banner of United Kisaan Morcha, the dharna of farmers continued for the second consecutive day today over non-purchase of paddy in the mandi of Bhangala town situated on the Jalandhar-Pathankot National Highway on Saturday.

Farmers’ leaders Vijay Wahbalmanj, Surjit Singh and Avtar Bobby said the state government began the purchase of paddy on October 1. He said whereas in the government market of town Bhangala, even on October 19, not even a single grain of the farmers’ paddy crop was purchased in the mandis.

The farm leaders said the whole economy would suffer because of the non-purchase of paddy. They said if their crop was not purchased, how would they earn money to buy goods they need?

Farmers said they had bought 73 and 26 varieties of paddy seeds from recognized shops and commission agents. They said they have already grown the crop by buying expensive seeds and now, due to the non-purchase of paddy, farmers are suffering heavy losses.

Farm leaders said if the paddy of the farmer gets spoilt in the market, then in the coming time, along with the farmers, common people and business class would also have to bear the brunt of it.

They said they did not want to trouble common people; however, due to the indifference of the state government, they were forced to stage a dharna.

The leaders said their protest would continue till their demands were met by the state government. They say the dharna would continue till the government did not meet all their demands and the work of paddy purchase was not completed.