Chandigarh, 18 October, 2024: As Punjab is witnessing heightened tensions with farmer unions, rice millers, and arhtiyas preparing to march toward Chandigarh in protest of the slow paddy procurement process, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has extended an invitation to the protestors for discussions on Saturday evening, seeking a resolution to the crisis.
The protest march, led by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and supported by various rice millers and commission agents, is fueled by dissatisfaction over the state’s handling of paddy procurement. “We are heading to Chandigarh from across Punjab, but the police are trying to stop us,” said Raminder Singh, an SKM leader.
He reported that farmers accompanying him had been halted at Airport Road, while other leaders, such as Balbir Singh Rajewal, were detained near Bhago Majra. Singh added, “We will decide on our next steps, including whether to march to the Chief Minister’s residence, once everyone reaches Kisan Bhawan.”
Meanwhile, arhtiyas (commission agents) are demanding the restoration of their 2.5% commission on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy. Currently, their commission is capped at Rs 46 per quintal, a reduction implemented a few years ago, which they claim is unfair. As the protest gains momentum, all eyes are on the talks between the Punjab government and the aggrieved parties to see if a resolution can be achieved.
The three key groups involved in paddy procurement—farmers, rice millers, and arhtiyas—have been protesting since the procurement season began. Farmers are complaining of harassment, claiming there is no space available in mandis to store their paddy. Rice millers, while refusing to process the crop, have offered their facilities to the government for storage purposes.
Commission agents, who joined the protests recently, are demanding the restoration of their 2.5% commission on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy. Their commission has been capped at Rs 46 per quintal for the past few years, a reduction they argue is unjust.
