Choudhry blames BJP govt for distress sale of wheat

Tribune News Service

Bhiwani, April 25

Leader of the Haryana Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Kiran Choudhry has blamed the BJP government for forcing the farmers to resort to distress sale of wheat in the mandis. She said the five state agencies that had been entrusted with the task of procurement were playing truant.

The former Excise and Taxation Minister said, “It’s a double whammy for the farmers. First they faced heavy losses due to unseasonal rain and hailstorm and now the agencies are not coming forward to procure their grain despite specific assurance given by the Chief Minister.”

She said, “The harried farmers are being subjected to harassment due to either slow lifting of wheat in the grain markets or refusal by the agencies to mop up wheat on one flimsy ground or another. In Tosham, only one agency has procured wheat and heaps of grain are lying in the open, causing inconvenience to the farmers. It has not been lifted because HAFED pays after 10 days and farmers have to face inconvenience due tot his. A mechanism should be evolved under which farmers can make instant payment.”

She said the refusal to lift wheat stocks had left the mandis clogged, leaving little room for fresh arrivals. “The scenario is worse in Tosham, where farmers have no space to unload their produce. In some districts, procurement agencies have refused to buy the farmers’ produce,” she said.

Choudhry warned the farmers would be forced to come out on the roads and the situation might go out of control. Besides, ensuring fast procurement, the state government should also ensure the farmers were paid MSP for their produce in 24 hours, she demanded.