Karnal Congress candidate visits grain market, slams BJP over delayed paddy procurement

Amid growing resentment among farmers, Congress candidate from Karnal, Sumita Singh Virk, visited the grain market and criticised the government for its failure to ensure timely procurement of paddy. She said that farmers were at the receiving end.

Surrounded by a group of farmers, Virk accused the government of neglecting the farmers’ concerns during this crucial harvest season.

She interacted with the farmers, who expressed their anger over the government’s broken promises.

They complained that despite the government’s announcement, paddy procurement has been delayed, forcing them to wait in the grain market.

“Farmers told me that their paddy crop was not being procured, so I visited the grain market to review the situation. The government has failed to fulfil its promises,” Virk said, adding that registration of rice millers is yet to be done.

She said that despite preponing procurement dates, the reality in grain markets is different. Farmers are waiting with their produce, while the administration turns a blind eye, she added.

Virk further alleged that the delay in procurement was politically motivated, accusing the ruling BJP of prioritising their election campaign over addressing the plight of farmers.

“Instead of focusing on securing votes, the BJP should focus on securing the livelihoods of farmers. This is a clear example of mismanagement and insensitivity,” she said.

On the other hand, BJP candidate from Karnal, Jagmohan Anand, claimed that the party is concerned for the farmers, due to which it has requested the Union government to prepone the procurement.

“On the request of state government, the Union government has preponed the procurement of paddy. Procurement agencies have also started purchasing. The authorities are also in touch with the rice millers for starting registration of custom-milled rice policy 2024-25,” Jagmohan said.