Minister blames Centre for paddy glut

Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond has blamed the Union Government for tardy lifting of foodgrain lying in the state godowns just to teach a lesson to state’s farmers, rice millers and commission agents.

Talking to The Tribune after attending a Mega Parent-Teacher meeting at Government School of Eminence, Amloh, today Sond said the Chief Minister had met Union Ministers and written missives to speed up the lifting of wheat and rice from the godowns, but to no avail.

The minister said due to the callous attitude of the Union Government there was a glut of paddy in the state’s grain markets, creating a mess all around.

“If things are not set in order quickly it may create a law and order situation as the farmers are already holding dharnas and road blockades at various places putting people to great hardships,” he added.

Sond said all ministers, MLAs, DCs and officials have been assigned the duty to visit the grain markets and ensure smooth procurement and lifting. The state government was also trying to make alternative arrangements to store the procured paddy, he said. The farmers won’t have to suffer as the government stands by them and would do its best for smooth procurement and lifting of paddy, he added.

He said all demands of the farmers and commission agents that fell in the purview of the state government had been resolved.

Amloh MLA Gurinder Singh Garry Warring, ADC Gitika Singh, ADC (D) Surinder Singh Dhaliwal and SDM Manjit Singh Rajla were also present on the occasion.