E-Paper
Extend paddy lifting deadline or face stir: Farmers to Punjab govt
As the government has stopped procurement, the farmers have to protect the crops in mandi by staying awake at night and guarding the crops in the open amidst declining temperature
As agencies have refused to lift the crop, the farmers are forced to perform thikri pehra (guarding the crop) in the mandi here to save their crops from being stolen. High-voltage drama took place at Dana Mandi in Jagraon when a farmer, Pargat Singh, whose paddy crops was not lifted by the government, threatened to commit suicide. The government has stopped the procurement process from November 17 in the mandis across the state which has invited resentment from farmers. As the government has stopped procurement, the farmers have to protect the crops in mandi by staying awake at night and guarding the crops in the open amidst declining temperature.
The farmer hailing from Lopon village, claimed he had brought the crops before the official deadline yet his crop was not lifted. While blaming the authorities, he sped away on a high speeding motorcycle towards the highway, but soon the other famers managed to stop him, persuading him not to take the extreme step. Later the farmers sitting at the mandi raised slogans against the government.
Komal, a farmer, said that first his produce is not being lifted and the crop was being stolen. As a result, he along with other farmers are performing thikri pehra. Mewa Singh from Bansipura village, whose crops were also not lifted, said that firstly the crop was damaged due to untimely rain, due to which they had to sow the crop again and harvested it late. Now when the crop has arrived the procurement agencies have refused to lift the crop.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) leader Joginder Singh Ughrahan opposed the decision of authorities to stop the arrival of paddy rural purchase centers. Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, general secretary, BKU (Ugrahan), said if the government does not withdraw its order, they would launch an agitation.
Gurmeetpal Singh, market secretary said that nearly 4000 quintal of crop is yet to be lifted. The authorities have been apprised of the situation and the statement of farmers have been recorded regarding the delay in the arrival of crop in the Mandis.
Sub-divisional magistrate Vikas Hira said the government procurement ended on November 17 while the crop of the farmer arrived at the mandi on November 18. “Procurement is not possible in contravention to the government’s guidelines. If the government changes the decision and directs the purchase, then the purchase will be made,” he said
