Punjab farmers up in arms against wheat import

Worried over the possibilty of the Centre importing almost 50 lakh tonnes of wheat by paying over $300 per tonne in the international market and its effect on the Punjab farmers, the SAD-BJP government is contemplating to register an official protest over the issue.

The farmers' organisations in Punjab are also up in arms against the Centre's decision saying that instead of paying dollars to other nations the government should pay better remuneration to its own farmers by increasing the minimum support price (MSP).

The Centre has plans to buy 5 million tonnes of wheat from the international market and has already procured 5 lakh tonnes on a payment of $273-275 per tonne.

However, now the global wheat suppliers participating in the fresh government tenders for importing 1 million tonnes of wheat have quoted prices above 318 dollars per tonne.

The state government's protest over the issue comes three days after the BJP in Delhi demanded a probe into the decision to import 5 million tonnes of wheat, alleging a scam in the deal.

According to official sources, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has already taken up the issue to the highest authorities in the Centre, albeit informally, but the central government has not shown any inclination to change its stand.

Speaking to Business Standard, Balbir Singh Rajewal, president, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) said the Centre has always shown step-motherly treatment towards the farmers of Punjab.

"It is not willing to pay us even $200 per tonne, but is hardly bothered about doling out huge sums to foreign countries to buy grains which are not even acceptable to Indian palate as they are used for bread making and not chapattis.''

"Last year also we protested against this decision of the government and even this year we will be joining hands with other farmer organisations to protest against wheat imports," said Rajewal.

Bhupinder Singh Mann, president, All India Kisan Coordination Committee said if the government calls itself secular and has every right to import wheat from anywhere in the world, it should also allow its farmers to export wheat anywhere they want to.