Through PTI

NEW DELHI: Congress on Sunday demanded an immediate start of purchases of paddy and other Kharif crops at the minimum support price (MSP) after water content standards were relaxed.

The Center issued an order on Saturday to begin supplying paddy to Punjab and Haryana from October 3 after its earlier decision to postpone supply until October 11 due to recent torrential rains triggered protests.

Chief Congressman Randeep Surjewala said the government was “conspiring to end MSP” by delaying supplies and “failing to relax paddy moisture standards”.

He demanded that the Center provide compensation within seven days to farmers whose crops were damaged by recent rains from the National Disaster Relief Fund.

“Conspiring to attack the livelihoods of farmers and workers has become a habit of the Modi government. Previously it was delaying the purchase of paddy and other crops and now they are attacking the livelihoods of farmers by not relaxing the moisture content standards in paddy, ”he alleged in a statement. .

The congressman said the purchase of crops in Punjab and Haryana was to begin on September 25, which was changed even as lakhs of crop quintals were in various mandis.

So far, no single rupee purchase has taken place at the minimum support price announced by the government, he said.

The Haryana government has again set October 3 as the date for public procurement at the MSP, he said, adding that no crops can be purchased from the MSP under existing standards which allow up to 17 for percent moisture in crops, while crops on the market currently have a moisture content of 22-22.7 percent.

“Congress demands that the government immediately relax sourcing standards for crop moisture content so that farmers can get relief and their crops are not destroyed.” But the truth is that the Modi government is deliberately conspiring to do it like this so that none can take place and the MSP regime can end, ”Surjewala asserted.

“Congress is also demanding that the government allow a relaxation of up to 25% moisture in the paddy for supply to the MSP, which is expected to begin immediately. seven days from the National Disaster Relief Fund, for crops damaged in recent rains, ”he said.

The government “is deliberately delaying the purchase of crops so that farmers do not get MSP for their crops and are forced to sell in distress,” he said, adding that this is happening for the first time in the world. Independent India.