The Punjab Government has approached Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking his personal intervention to resolve Centre-state disputes, especially with regards to procurement of foodgrain, at the earliest. - File photo
Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 12
The Punjab Government has approached Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking his personal intervention to resolve Centre-state disputes, especially with regards to procurement of foodgrain, at the earliest.
CBI raids on agenda
- Food and Supply Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Saturday will take up with the Centre the issue of CBI raids to check quality of foodgrain stored in godowns of the state
- Rice millers have also met MoS (Food) Raosahib Patil Danve and said they shouldn’t be held responsible for the fall in quality of rice stored in their facilities after its delivery to FCI
After Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had a word with Shah earlier this week, Food and Supply
Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu has been deputed to meet the Home Minister.
The move is significant in the wake of the ongoing farmers’ agitation and the belief that the Centre will stop procurement of their crops because of the three agricultural laws.
The meeting between Shah and Ashu, and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal is scheduled to be held on Saturday. The issue of procurement of wheat by Food Corporation of India from the state in the coming rabi marketing season will be the main point of discussion.
Ashu said though the issue of withholding of two per cent of Rural Development Fund by the Centre will also be discussed, their main concern is that each grain of wheat should be procured from the state to quell the dissent amongst the farmers and other agrarian economy related sections in the state.
The minister said the issue of making direct payment to farmers would also to be discussed. “While the Centre has been insisting on making direct payment to farmers, and restricting the role of commission agents (arhtiyas), we feel that it is a well-established mandi system and had to be dealt with more sensitively,” he said.
This year again, Punjab is facing a severe shortage of jute/gunny bags, required for storing the procured wheat. In the last season, the state had allowed use of old bags because of the shortage.
“The state has also not received its subsidy under the National Food Security Act. I am hoping to briefly touch upon these subjects, before a formal agenda for taking the talks forward can be agreed and then worked upon,” said the food minister.
Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.
Most Read In 24 Hours
Don't Miss
View All
Top News
Shehzada has fled Amethi, fears defeat in Wayanad too, says PM
Mocks Rahul on Raebareli move, saying ‘daro mat, bhaago mat’
