Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies of Punjab have procured 120.67 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy in a total of 126.67 LMT of paddy arrived in the mandis of Punjab, an official release said.
In a show of solidarity with Punjab's farmers, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee and Member of Parliament from Ludhiana, visited the mandi in Bharu, Gidderbaha, where he spent the night with the farmers whose crops have been left rotting as they
Bharatiya Janata Party National General Secretary Tarun Chugh on Wednesday strongly condemned the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab for politicizing the issue of paddy procurement in the state.
Punjab minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday said that a delegation of Punjab cabinet ministers met the governor Gulab Chand Kataria and submitted a memorandum, emphasizing the need for lifting the rice from mandis and facilitating wheat production for the upcoming season.
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu held a review meeting regarding food grain procurement on Sunday. He said that funds have been released by the Center but the state government has failed in its duty.
Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi said on Sunday that the Modi government is strongly standing with the farmers of Punjab.
Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (PKMSC) district president Aranjeet Singh said that they will gather in Phagwada over the issues concerning the farmers of the state.
The farmers in Punjab on Saturday sat down at Phagwara Main Chowk in a one-day protest against the government to press their various demands including timely paddy procurement.
"I can't understand why the farmers aren't getting money when the central government has already released Rs 44,000 crore. Money should be given to farmers and paddy must be purchased," he said.