Chandigarh, 14 October, 2024: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) announced plans for a protest outside Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s residence on October 18, citing delays in paddy procurement in Punjab.
It is pertinent to mention that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi at noon on Monday to address urgent paddy procurement issues, including concerns raised by rice millers and commission agents (aartiyas).
However, reports said that farmers, along with arhtiyas (commission agents) and rice millers, will hold a dharna to voice their concerns that they say aren’t being met yet, according to the farmers.
“There is a glut of paddy crop in Punjab, and farmers are facing huge losses,” farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal stated.
He criticized both the government in Punjab and the central government for failing to initiate procurement, which was supposed to start on October 1.
“Farmers are facing hardships in mandis,” he added.
Rajewal indicated that around 1,000 participants, including farmers, arhtiyas, laborers, and rice millers, would gather for the protest.
He warned, “We will gherao and show black flags to AAP MLAs and ministers whenever they visit grain markets.”
Moreover, arhtiyas plan to display black flags in all grain markets.
The new protest announcement comes after a three-hour road blockade organized by the SKM on Sunday, aimed to protest against the slow pace of paddy procurement.
Rajewal explained that while arhtiyas are demanding a raise in their commission, rice millers are facing challenges related to storage for the fresh paddy crop.
“Rice millers are also concerned about the space crunch for storing the fresh paddy crop,” he noted.
Furthermore, they are worried about the low post-milling yield of the PR-126 variety, claiming that it could lead to “huge losses” for them.
