CHANDIGARH: Punjab Cabinet Ministers Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, Harjot Singh Bains, and Hardeep Singh Mundian submitted a memorandum to Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Monday, requesting his intervention with the Central Government to expedite the lifting of rice from Punjab.
Later, interacting with media, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that they had informed the Governor about the Union Government's delay in lifting rice from shellers, which is causing issues in lifting paddy from the grain markets. The memorandum also highlighted the problem of low rice yield from paddy, urging the Governor to seek an immediate solution from the Union Government, he added.
Finance Minister Cheema pointed out that the BJP leaders' claim about a CCL limit of Rs 40, 000 crore shows a lack of understanding of the ground reality, as the CCL limit is established every year during the paddy-wheat season. He said that the gap in the CCL limit sometimes ranges from Rs 600 crore to Rs 1, 000 crore, a loss borne by the Punjab government, aartis, or transporters. This year, the estimated loss is around Rs 800 crore.
Minister Cheema emphasized that despite Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann's letters to the Central Government and meetings between Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak and Central Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi, the Union Government has not lifted rice from the state, driven by a sense of revenge against Punjab's farmers. He said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann also met with Union Minister JP Nadda to address the shortage of DAP in the state, urging a swift resolution.
Cabinet Minister Cheema accused the BJP-led Union Government of punishing Punjab's farmers, who opposed the three black laws, and of attempting to defame the state's farmers, aartis, and sheller owners. He reminded the Union Government that Punjab's farmers contribute 40 percent of wheat and 22 percent of rice to the central pool, a testament to their hard work. “Punjab has long been the food bowl of India; it is unjust to overlook the rights of Punjab’s farmers, ” said Harpal Singh Cheema while adding that the state has consistently contributed the largest share to the central food reserves.
Minister Cheema reiterated that the Punjab government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann's leadership, stands firmly with the farmers. He mentioned that all state government ministers are visiting grain markets to expedite the paddy procurement process. Finance Minister Cheema expressed hope that the Punjab Governor would strongly advocate for the state's case with the Union Government.