BJP demands paddy procurement from November 1, opposes government decision from December 1

Raipur:State government’s decision to procure paddy from December 1has evoked sharp reaction from the BJP. 

The BJP Chhattisgarh has started opposing the state government decision on paddy procurement. Leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh Assembly Dharamlal Kaushik said that the ‘poor’farmers will be deprived of celebrating festivals like Diwali with enthusiasm if paddy is not procured from November 1. Paddy crop is ready for the procurement, said Kaushik. The BJP demanded from the government to procure paddy from November 1 with a support price of Rs 2800 per quintal. He said that BJP is ready to fight on the streets for the interest of farmers.

Talking to reporters, Kaushik said that the central government has increased the support price by about Rs 300. In such a situation, the Bhupesh government of the state should purchase paddy with a support price of Rs 2800 per quintal. The state government has announced to purchase paddy from December 1like previous year. With this decision, the poor farmers of the state will not get the benefit of fixing the support price. Nor will they be able to get the benefit of the facilities being provided for the purchase of paddy.

There are a number of festivals along with Diwali in November and farmers need money to celebrate them. BJP State General Secretary Bhupendra Savani, former President of Women’s Commission Harshita Pandey, Beltara MLA Rajneesh Singh, Masturi MLA Dr Krishnamurti Bandhi, BJP District President Ramdev Kumawat and Gulshan Rishi were present.

Memorandum will be submitted to the Collectors across the state

Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik said that the government is claiming itself farmer–friendly, but deprives them of benefits by making delay in procurement of paddy. Farmers will now have to sell paddy in the market at throwaway prices. In this regard, a memorandum is being handed over to the Chief Minister through the Collector in all the districts of the state on Thursday. 

Government has not been able to provide 24 lakh metric tonnesof paddy

On the question of the central government refusing to take levy rice, Kaushik said that last year the government was unable to deposit 28 lakh metric tonnes of paddy to the government through FCI. Similarly, 24 lakh metric tonnes of rice has not been deposited so far. He said that the state government does not have the capacity to work and is blaming the central government.