Paddy procurement: Tewari slams state govt

Union information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari on Friday lashed out at the Punjab government for its 'failure' to smoothly procure paddy across the state.

Union information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari on Friday lashed out at the Punjab government for its 'failure' to smoothly procure paddy across the state.

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He said the state government could not escape its responsibility by simply passing on the blame to the Centre.

The minister also spoke to Food Corporation of India chairman C Vishwanath on the phone, urging him to take a sympathetic view and relax norms in the farmers' interest.

In an informal conversation with reporters after visiting some grain markets in the area, the Ludhiana MP said the attitude of the state government was "disgustingly disappointing".

He said farmers told him that officials appeared to be in no mood to be considerate and supportive.