Ensure lifting of paddy crop before Diwali, BJP urges Governor
A delegation of Punjab BJP leaders today met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria seeking his intervention to ensure timely lifting of paddy from across the state’s grain markets before Diwali.
A law-and-order situation has emerged due to the procurement crisis as farmers are on the roads protesting, it was pointed out.
National executive members Avinash Rai Khanna, Harjit Singh Grewal, Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, Amanjot Kaur Ramowalia, MLA Jangi Lal Mahajan, former Union Minister Perneet Kaur, state vice-president Fateh Jang Singh Bajwa comprised the delegation.
The delegation apprised the Governor of the law and order crisis in the state that has arisen due to the inability of the AAP government to lift paddy from mandis
in Punjab.
Before the commencement of the season in the last week of September, the Punjab Government got Rs 44,000 crore for the purchase of paddy on MSP from the Centre. Due to inefficiency on the part of the Punjab Government, even after 26 days of official commencement of the paddy procurement, the state government has failed to lift most of the paddy from the mandis across the state, it was alleged. It was further pointed out that paucity of gunny bags, tarpaulin, delayed notification of custom milling policy, delayed notification of FRK milling policy, delay in awarding of labour contracts or transportation contracts were among the issues related to delayed procurement. The state government even failed to enter into agreement with 5,500 rice millers.
Top state leadership of the party, including state president Sunil Jakhar and Manoranjan Kalia, were not present on the occasion. While Jakhar was away to New Delhi, Kalia was not even invited, reliable sources said. Talking to The Tribune, Kalia refused to comment on the issue.
