Union Govt Biased Against Punjab, Says Mandi Board Chief

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CHANDIGARH – Punjab Mandi Board chairman and BKU president Ajmer Singh Lakhowal said it was unfair on the part of the Centre to not relax specifications regarding the procurement of wheat in the state.

He said the Centre had relaxed specifications in case of Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and other states but it had not been done in case of Punjab. “It was a clear case of discrimination against Punjab,” he said.

He was referring to specifications related to the moisture content, discolouration and shrivelling of the grain.

He said untimely rain and hailstorm had caused a lot of damage to crops in the state.

“The state government had sent a report in this regard to the Centre. But, the Centre did not announce any fiscal support in case of Punjab farmers, who suffered losses due to inclement weather. The Centre did not even think about sending a team of experts to the state to check the crop damage. Besides, it has not even relaxed specifications. Due to this, the procurement agencies are facing problems in procuring wheat and farmers too were also facing difficulties because the moisture content is more than 12 per cent,” said Lakhowal.

He has urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to take up the issue with the Centre.

Lakhowal said the BKU was against the inter-state linking of the rivers and it would be opposed at all levels.