Punjab paddy crisis: CM Mann dials Amit Shah, AAP blames BJP for stoking trouble

As the paddy crisis in Punjab deepened, with farmers continuing to protest at 51 places, and the issue taking political overtones, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday dialled Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking his immediate intervention.

The SKM is likely to announce protest and dharnas across the state from Thursday.

Mann is learnt to have apprised the Home Minister of the impending law and order situation, in case the issue is not resolved. He asked the HM to ensure that the Centre quickly moved out previous years’ food stocks from godowns in Punjab to create space for this year's rice. Rice millers have refused to take the paddy arriving in mandis till the time they are provided with space to store the fresh stock.

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday accused the BJP of purposely creating trouble in the state to seek revenge from Punjab farmers for protesting against the three farm laws, which the Centre was forced to withdraw in 2021, after a year-long protest.

Meanwhile, as the  four days time given by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and associations of commission agents and rice millers to the state government comes to an end today, and the issue remains largely unresolved, a meeting of all stakeholders is underway in Ludhiana. SKM leader Raminder Singh told The Tribune that since there has been no improvement in lifting of paddy and farmers are languishing in mandis, they are likely to announce state-wide protests from October 24.