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CHANDIGARH, September 20: Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh today asked the government to provide adequate compensation to the Basmati growers who have been forced to go for distress sale. He said, if the government did not announce sufficient compensation for the Basmati growers, he will be leading mass protests across the state.
In a statement issued here today, the former Chief Minister said that last year the Basmati sold for about Rs 3200 per quintal. However, he added, this year the Basmati is not selling for more than Rs 1200 per quintal. “This does not even meet the input costs of the farmers”, he said, while adding, “moreover, the Basmati yield is less as compared to other varieties of paddy”.
The senior Congress leader said, he has been repeatedly reminding the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to take up the matter with the central government to address this pressing problem.
“However, he (Mr Badal) only returns after presenting a bouquet to the Prime Minister without asking for anything for the reasons best known to him”, he said.
The former Chief Minister warned that in case the farmers do not get adequate ruminative prices for their produce it will lead to law and order problem in the state. He said, the farmers are already on the roads protesting peacefully and still the government is not waking up to their problem.
“Better you take serious note of the situation lest it is too late for you and the state as the resentment and anger among the farmers is brewing fast”, he warned Mr Badal, while adding that he will personally lead the farmers’ protests as this government had failed to address their concerns.
