The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) vehemently attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the issues faced by farmers in the purchase of paddy. AAP leader and senior spokesperson Pawan Kumar Tinu stated that the central government has deliberately not cleared the warehouses to defame Punjab's AAP government.
Pawan Tinu questioned Central Minister Prahlad Joshi, saying that it is not the first time grains have come to the markets in Punjab; why hasn’t the central government cleared the space yet? He added that the BJP wants to create chaos in Punjab and trouble farmers and the common people.
He emphasized that the central government is responsible for the purchase and lifting of wheat and paddy. The Punjab government has been continuously writing letters to the FCI and the central government. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann himself wrote to the central minister, but there was a deliberate delay.
Tinu stated that the central government should understand that Punjab has always filled the country's food stock and fed the entire nation. Due to Punjab's farmers, the country has not faced a grain shortage for about six decades. Our farmers have depleted their water resources for this, yet the central government is discriminating against Punjab. This is extremely unfortunate and shameful.
He pointed out that any issues related to farming in Punjab mean the entire economy here is at risk. The system here depends on agriculture. Knowing this, the central government is taking such actions. This proves that the BJP is deliberately targeting Punjab.
He said that the BJP has deliberately not cleared the grains from FCI warehouses to defame the AAP and the Punjab government. They want to trouble the AAP government in Delhi and Punjab. Tinu mentioned that the BJP is taking revenge on Punjab's farmers for not giving them a single seat in the Lok Sabha elections. The delay in paddy purchases is also a part of a planned conspiracy to defame the Punjab government.
During a meeting with the Chief Minister, Central Minister Prahlad Joshi assured that they will meet all the demands of the traders and shellers. He said that 120 lakh metric tons of food grain will be lifted by March 31, 2025, to make space available, and the central government is also ready to cover the extra transportation costs.
Additionally, they also agreed to reduction percentage on spoiled grains. The Chief Minister also told the central minister that they are ready to grow other crops too, but the central government must guarantee their purchase.