Farmers lay siege to GT Road

Gurminder Singh Grewal

Khanna, April 23

A number of farmers and commission agents of Khanna blocked traffic on GT road, in front of Asia’s biggest grain market, Khanna, against the non purchase of discolored wheat crop.

The protesters raised slogans against the purchase agencies and state government and appealed the state government to amend the norms to purchase discolored wheat.

As per a commission agent Kamaljit Kamma, the officials of purchase agencies were terming the discolored wheat as luster loss and hence not purchasing the discolored wheat.

Gurnam Singh, a farmer of Mandiala Khurd village, alleged that they were being harassed in the name of discolored wheat and some trailers were even sent back by citing moisture to be the reason for purchase agencies not buying wheat. The officials of purchase agencies were not purchasing wheat in the name of discoloring.

The protesters alleged that the crop was already late due to weather and later rains hindered the harvesting of wheat crop and now the officials of purchasing agencies are harassing them in the name of discoloring.

Dalwinder Singh, secretary, market committee, when contacted said the norms were to be relaxed by state government in this regard, although they are pursuing the purchase agencies to purchase wheat as soon as possible.

He stated Pungrain had purchased some heaps of wheat and they are trying best for more purchase. Meanwhile, SDM Khanna Sandeep Singh when contacted said he was visiting the spot and the matter will be resolved soon.