Wheat not being procured in Punjab: Congress

Punjab Congress today charged the state government with not ensuring wheat procurement arriving in grain markets which has added to the miseries of the farmers who's crops were damaged in untimely rains.
Taking a jibe at ruling SAD-BJP led government, PPCC President Partap Singh Bajwa said not just the NDA government at the Centre but the SAD-led government in Punjab has also failed to get relief or any compensation for affected farmers.
"No wheat procurement is taking place in the state despite crop arriving in various mandis of several districts," Bajwa claimed while addressing media here today.
He said crop has started arriving from April 13, but grains are not being lifted by procurement agencies, adding to farmers' woes.

He said that farmers' crop is not being bought, citing high moisture content in wheat by the procurement agencies.
"The high moisture content never arose in case of wheat. And now farmers are being harassed as they are being told that their crop has high moisture content," he said.

With farmers facing heavy losses due to crop getting damaged because of rains and hailstorm, Bajwa sought Rs 25,000 per acre compensation for 100 per cent crop damage and Rs 15,000 per acre for 50 per cent crop damage in the state.
"We also want Rs 200 per quintal bonus be given to wheat growers on MSP to compensate farmers for their yield loss are growers are complaining of about 30 per cent in yield," he said.

Describing crop damage as "biggest agrarian crisis", Bajwa asked Punjab government to come forward and help wheat growers in the hour of crisis.
Referring to the recommendation of Shanta Kumar committee recommendation on overhauling of FCI, Bajwa said that the party would not allow the FCI to abandon purchase of foodgrain from Punjab.
"They (BJP) now do not want crop from Punjab as foodgrain is available in other states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh. That is why the government does not want FCI to buy crop from the state," he claimed.
Former Lok Sabha MP said that congress leaders will soon visit grain markets in Punjab to take a stock of crop purchase for central pool.

Bajwa further said that potato growers had also suffered as they failed to get remunerative prices for their crop.