Arhtiyas start relay fast over non-procurement of bajra

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, October 17

Commission agents today started indefinite relay fast at the local grain market in protest against non-procurement of bajra.

The agents said that they had received a large quantity of bajra from farmers following the promise made by Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Karan Dev Kamboj that HAFED would buy the entire crop.

“Over 75,000 quintals of bajra is lying unsold in the market and the farmers have submitted all required documents with us for selling the crop to HAFED, but the procurement is not being made for the past five days,” said Narender Kumar, president of the Commission Agents’ Association.

He said HAFED wished to purchase merely 5,000 quintals while they were demanding procurement of the entire produce lying in the market. “By not doing so, HAFED is creating differences between farmers and commission agents, but we will not let this happen and continue the stir until out demand is accepted,” he said.

Sources said HAFED initially purchased bajra through token system, but the minister during his visit to Jhajjar a week ago ordered to withdraw the system following complaints by farmers that they had to stand in long queues for hours to get the token.

The minister had also asked the farmers to drop their crop at the commission agents’ shops and HAFED officials would reach there to purchase the crop after verification of documents,” said Harender Silana, a commission agent. “We started receiving bajra and required documents from the farmers to sell it to HAFED but now, the officials have refused to purchase the crop,” he said.

Surender Choudhary, District Manager, HAFED, said 76,000 quintals of bajra had already been procured in Jhajjar, Matanhel and Dhakla grain markets in the district, while a target to buy one lakh quintal bajra for the entire state was set for this season.

“The issue was discussed with commission agents this morning. We offered to procure 5,000 quintals, but they refused to accept it,” he said.

He said the higher authorities had been informed about the demand of the commission agents.