UP wheat not procured, farmers protest in Karnal

Tribune News Service

Karnal, April 26

Commission agents and Uttar Pradesh farmers protested at the grain market here on Thursday against the non-procurement of wheat for the past two days. They locked the token centre near the main gate, leading to a jam of tractors-trailers in the mandi.

“Procurement agencies ask for residential proof as well as land records of farmers from UP. In spite of showing them our land records, Aadhaar cards and ration cards, the procurement agencies have not been procuring wheat,” a farmer from UP said.

The arhtiyas met Karnal SDM Narinder Malik at the market committee office, but the meeting remained inconclusive. “Under e-NAM, farmers can sell their produce anywhere in country, but the Haryana Government has been working against PM Narendra Modi’s ambitious project by not procuring wheat of UP farmers,” said Sumit Chaudhary, an arhtiya.

Karnal Arhtiyas’ Association president Rajnish Chaudhary said, “We are against illegal trading of wheat by arhtiyas, but the produce of farmers should be procured.”

Officials assured protesters that a meeting would be convened on Friday in this regard. Kushal Boora , DFSC, said, “We want to stop illegal trading of wheat from UP. We are only checking documents of farmers to ensure that the produce is of farmers instead of any trader.”