BKU protests delay in paddy purchase

Farmers under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) staged a protest at the Gharaunda market committee office on Saturday, raising slogans against the government over delays in paddy procurement and the lack of digital weighing machines in mandis.

Led by BKU state president Rattan Maan and block president Dhanetar Rana, farmers gathered at the Kisan Bhawan in the new grain market of Gharaunda before marching to the market committee office. They accused the government of poor arrangements and warned that if paddy procurement is not streamlined and digital weighing machines are not installed by Monday, the union would intensify its agitation.

Maan said that only digital weighing machines could ensure transparency in procurement. “Last time, we found major irregularities in manual weighing. Digital machines leave no scope for manipulation and any wrongdoing can be detected instantly,” he said, urging farmers not to fall into the trap of commission agents and to insist on digital weighing in their presence.

BKU leaders also targeted political parties, alleging that no leaders are visible in mandis when farmers are struggling, but once the situation normalises, they arrive only to get photographed.

Market committee officials assured the farmers that procurement would start smoothly and that digital weighing machines would be installed across mandis within three days. BKU said it would wait until Monday to see whether the assurances are fulfilled.