Capt Amarinder warns gherao of mandis over procurement issues
Wednesday, 31/10/2012
http://punjabnewsline.com/news/Capt-Amarinder-warns-gherao-of-mandis-over-procurement-issues.html
Wednesday : CHANDIGARH: Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Capt Amarinder Singh today lashed out at the Akali-BJP government in the state for its failure in lifting the paddy on time.
Capt Amarinder warned, if the farmers issues were not addressed on time, the Congress will gherao the mandis across Punjab.
He said, so much so the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who claims himself to be the guardian of the farmers’ interests has failed the farmers of his own district and constituency.
In a statement issued here today, the PCC President said that the farmers had not only to wait for days together to get their paddy lifted, but they also had to grease the palms of the corrupt officials patronized by the corrupt Akali jathedars.
The PCC President disclosed that the farmers had to pay something between Rs 50 to Rs 100 per quintal for their produce to the corrupt officials and Akali jathedars who seem to have now taken over the mandis.
He pointed out, so much so the farmers from Muktsar district including those from the Chief Minister’s native village, Badal, had to stage protest for timely payment of their produce. He said, both the farmers and the arthiyas (the commission agents) were feeling cheated, intimidated and exploited at the hands of the officials and jathedars.
Capt Amarinder warned the government that in case the government did not streamline the procurement and ensured timely and proper payment to farmers the Congress will launch a statewide stir to gherao the mandis.
