Jakhar warns govt agencies against exploitation of farmers

Congress Legislative party leader Sunil Jakhar today said that Punjab government purchasing agencies and marketing officials were indulging in "loot" of farmers and forcing them for "distress" sale of their paddy crop.
"We will not allow such malpractices and would lead affected farmers in squatting at the grain markets", he warned.
Taking the government to task for allegedly making tall claims over transparent and effective purchase arrangements for paddy, he said it had fallen flat as usual.
"The farmers were being forced to go in for distress sale below the Minimum Support Price," he said.
He said that there was glut of paddy in most of the grain markets; farmers had to stand guard in open to protect paddy stacks as purchase, lifting and payments were delayed.

"The vested interests created a situation to force farmers to pocket off payments ranging Rs 25 to Rs 100 per quintal under hand to get paddy sold," he said.