Haryana CM’s paddy purchase promise a poll bluff: Surjewala

Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday said Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s promise to buy paddy at Rs 3,100 per quintal turned out to be an election bluff.

During a visit at a grain market in Radaur town of Yamunanagar to review the paddy procurement, he said the MSP of PR variety of paddy was Rs 2,389 per quintal. However, under the pretext of moisture and cleanliness, farmers' paddy was being purchased at prices ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,100 per quintal.

“Farmers are feeling helpless. muchhal paddy used to sell between Rs 3,800 and Rs 4,400 per quintal during the Congress regime. But, now it is selling between Rs 3,200 and Rs 3,300 per quintal,” alleged Surjewala.

He said the state government had increased the price of sugarcane by Rs 15, which was a joke on farmers.

He pointed out that Yamunanagar district was recently hit by floods, but the BJP government did not provide any compensation to farmers for the damage to their crops and tubewells.

“The BJP government has not even visited the flood-affected villages of the state. It has not also provided any compensation to flood-affected people,” said Surjewala.

He said farmers were forced to face hardships to get fertilisers under the BJP rule as these were being sold on black market.

Alleging the BJP government had defrauded with commission agents, the Congress leader said during the elections, the government increased commission to Rs 55 per quintal; however, after the elections, the commission was reduced again to Rs 45.88.