Surjewala accuses govt of tardy wheat purchase at Kaithal silo

Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala accused the Centre and state governments of ‘tardy’ procurement at silo grain storage godown at Solumajara village of Kaithal district, which belongs to the Adani group, but taken on rent by the FCI for procurement and storage purpose.

He launched an attack on the BJP government, accusing it of acting against the interests of farmers, labourers, and commission agents.

Interacting with the media at Dhand grain market after taking stock of the procurement of wheat, Surjewala held PM Narendra Modi, CM Nayab Saini, and the BJP responsible for the hardships being faced by the farmers.

He pointed to the long queue of tractor-trailers under the scorching sun, where farmers are waiting for hours to deposit their wheat. “It is not the farmer’s responsibility to deliver wheat to the silo. Their role ends at bringing the crop to the mandi. Why is the government compelling farmers to transport and unload their produce at the silo instead of grain markets?” he questioned.

He raised several concerns, including that over 80% of farmers do not own tractor-trailers and were forced to pay up to Rs 6,000 per day in rental charges of tractor and trailer. Farmers were made to wait for 20-30 hours in 42°C heat outside the silo without basic facilities, such as drinking water, food, or shade, he said.

Surjewala warned that similar silos were being built in Panipat and Kurukshetra, threatening the employment of labourers—many of whom belong to SC and BC communities—across the state. He alleged that this was a part of a bigger conspiracy to gradually shut down traditional mandis and eliminate commission agents.

“Is this being done to quietly reintroduce the anti-farmer black laws? To destroy mandis and make farmers dependent on corporates?” he asked.