Farmers protest against import of wheat in Jalandhar

Wheat procurement in the grain markets here were adversely affected because farmers did not bring their crops to mandis, on the call given by three farmers' unions--Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal), Bhartiya Kisan Union (Rajewal), and Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta).

This is in protest against the central government not announcing enhanced minimum support prices and its decision to import wheat.

There was no procurement activity, barring small purchases by commission agents in the Jalandhar food grain market. Farmers raised anti-Centre slogans for its failure to increase the MSP.

"If the government can pay Rs 950 per quintal for the export of wheat, why does it not give the same price as MSP to farmers, asked Puran Singh Shahkot, farmers' leader.

He claimed the boycott was successful and peaceful and the farmers, who were unaware of the boycott call and came to mandis, returned to support the demand of BKUs.

Balbir Singh Rajewal, president of BKU (Rajewal), who was in the Khanna Mandi claimed there was massive response to the boycott call given by the unions and that there were reports that no trade was done in the mandis of the state.

Criticising the decision of the union government to import wheat, Rajewal said if the demands to hike the MSP would not be accepted in two days, future course of action by the unions would be disclosed very soon.

Harvinder Singh, Office Secretary of BKU (Lakhowal) termed the delay in announcing the MSP as "criminal conspiracy" against farmers and said that due to anti-farmers policies of the union government situation has become explosive.

Ironically, when contacted, Avtar Henry, Food and Civil Supplies Minister, also supported the agitation of farmers and said "state government has already apprised centre with the situation and demanded immediate announcement of MSP".