Rice millers call off protest as govt accepts their demands

It has been learnt that the rice-millers were opposing the state government’s decision to get the procurement agencies to directly procure the paddy from mandi and transport it to the godowns to bring transparency.

Karnal: With the Haryana government accepting demands of the protesting rice millers, rice-mill owners have ended their protest held against procurement of paddy crop.

It has been learnt that the rice-millers were opposing the state government’s decision to get the procurement agencies to directly procure the paddy from mandi and transport it to the godowns to bring transparency.

Following which the rice millers and dealers association held a meeting on Sunday last and decided not to cooperate with the government in the procurement of the paddy crop.

Meanwhile, the government has announced that the procurement is progressing smoothly and about 3.65 lakh tonne of paddy worth Rs 689.44 crore has been purchased at the minimum support price in the last one week.

With the latest procurement data, the government aims to send a message to farmers protesting against new farm laws that it has no intention of scrapping procurement at the minimum support price.

Farmers in Punjab and Haryana and several other states are protesting against the new farm laws, which they feel will lead to procurement in the hands of corporates and the end of MSP regime.