Farmers, agents distressed, BJP busy in celebrations: Randeep Surjewala

Visits grain market in Kaithal | Alleges irregularities in paddy procurement

Tribune News Service

Panipat, Updated At : 07:52 AM Oct 14, 2024 IST

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, along with his son and newly elected MLA Aditya Surjewala, visits the new grain market in Kaithal on Sunday.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Randeep Surjewala, along with his son and newly elected MLA Aditya Surjewala, visited the new grain market in Kaithal today to review the procurement and lifting of the paddy crop.

Attacking the BJP government during a press conference at the grain market, Surjewala said the farmers, commission agents and labourers of Kaithal and Haryana were oppressed due to mismanagement and irregularities in the paddy procurement.

Showing a video of caretaker Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in which he was making a promise to the farmers to increase the rate of paddy to Rs 3,100, Surjewala said that neither the BJP government was purchasing paddy, not were the farmers getting the MSP.

‘DELIBERATE MISMANAGEMENT’
The farmer is frustrated, the middleman is helpless and the labourer is unemployed. The BJP government is playing the flute of peace but the farmers, commission agents and labourers were being looted. All this has happened due to the deliberate mismanagement of procurement. — Randeep Surjewala, general secretary, All India Congress Committee

He claimed farmers were facing losses worth crores of rupees. He said the superior-quality paddy 1509 had also been completely damaged and the farmers were forced to face a loss of Rs 500-600 per quintal as compared to the last year.

He said the farmers had faced the maximum loss over the ‘Moti Parmal’ variety. “The farmer is frustrated, the middleman is helpless and the labourer is unemployed,” he alleged.

Surjewala further said that the BJP government was playing the flute of peace butthe farmers, commission agents and labourers were being looted. All this had happened due to deliberate mismanagement of procurement, he alleged.

Surjewala further added that the grain markets in entire Haryana, including Kaithal, Dhand, Pundri and Gulha-Cheeka, were full of paddy, but the BJP government had completely failed in purchasing the produce.

He also accused the BJP-led government for tardy lifting and said that there had been no lifting in the Kaithal grain market since October 10. Due to this, the purchase of paddy had to be stopped on Sunday. The situation was similar in Dhand, Pundri and other grain markets.

“Unless the crop is lifted and the crop goes out of the market, the gate pass will not be issued. Due to this, farmers would not get payment for his produce, nor will the commission agent get his commission,” he said.

“Farmers and commission agents are in distress and the BJP government is busy with celebrations,” he alleged.

Surjewala also attacked the BJP government over the connection of Kaithal’s criminals in a murder case of NCP leader Baba Siddiqui, saying that it was a very serious matter that Kaithal’s criminals were linked with Mumbai’s criminals.

“The administration has to control it and should initiate action. Where is the Chief Minister? Why is he was not controlling the criminals?” Surjewala questioned.

‘Farmers not getting MSP for produce’

Showing a video of caretaker Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, in which he was making a promise to the farmers to increase the rate of paddy to Rs 3,100, Surjewala said that neither the BJP government was purchasing paddy, nor were the farmers getting the MSP.