Farmers stage protest, seek resumption of procurement

Farmers under the banner of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) today staged a protest outside the district administrative complexes in Bathinda and Mansa, demanding the resumption of paddy procurement in the grain markets.

The farmers said the crop was lying in the grain markets, but the state government had stopped the procurement process. At some places, the crop had not even been harvested, they said.

Later, the administration of both districts assured the protesters that the remaining crop would be procured.

Jagsir Singh Jawaharke, president, BKU (Ekta Ugrahan), Mansa block, said, “The District Food and Civil Supplies Controllers, along with some other officers, came to our protest site and assured us that the remaining crop would be procured. Thereafter, we ended the protest.”