Punjab CM accuses Centre of denying gunny bags to state at Akalis' behest

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Sunday accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of "acting at the behest" of the Akalis to "deliberately" create shortage of gunny bags with an aim of obstructing the procurement process of wheat and defame the Congress government in the state.

While Punjab, with its glut production of wheat, was being made to sweat it out for gunny bags, neighbouring Haryana was being supplied extra bags by the Centre to ensure smooth and streamlined procurement operations there ahead of May 12 polling, the CM was quoted as saying in a statement here.

Singh claimed four lakh bags (16,000 bales) had been diverted from Punjab to BJP-ruled Haryana.

"For the first time since taking over, the Congress government in Punjab was having problems in procurement due to the Centre's politically motivated actions in depriving the state of its much-needed supply of bags," Singh claimed, accusing the BJP-led central government of acting at the behest of its ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), to mess up the procurement process in mandis.

In contrast, the BJP government in Haryana was getting additional bags to handle the excess production of wheat this year, the CM said, lashing out at the Centre for once again giving Punjab a "step-motherly" treatment in order to promote is political interests in the election year.

Singh said the BJP must put an immediate end to such "petty tactics" to promote its electoral prospects.

The Punjab government had been repeatedly taking up the issue of shortage of gunny bags with the Centre and the Food Corporation of India (FCI), Singh said, disclosing that he personally spoke to FCI Chairman D V Prasad on Saturday.

Opposition parties have been criticising the Punjab government over stalling of wheat procurement process at several places in the state.