BJP, Congress trade charges over farmers’ demonstration

Ruling Congress and the BJP on Tuesday traded charges over paddy procurement issue and farmers protest happening in different parts of the state.

Meanwhile, farmers’ protest in Kawardha entered third day on Tuesday. They have blocked the National Highway Number 30 that connects Kawardha town from Raipur, Bilaspur, Rajnandgaon and Jabalpur.

Long queues of trucks running to several kilometers was seen at Chilfi Ghati as truck drivers struggled for food and other utilities.

In the meantime, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel claimed the protest in Kawardha was sponsored by opposition BJP and particularly former CM Raman Singh.

“BJP and Raman Singh do not have issues in their hands so to find political grounds they are sponsoring the protests particularly in Kawardha,” Baghel alleged while talking to reporters in the state legislative assembly complex on the second day of the budget session.

He claimed that during BJP regime, state used to purchase over 70 percent of paddy from the farmers. But his government has purchased paddy from more than 90 percent farmers in state.

“They want to run away from debate in the house so despite bringing adjournment motion they (BJP) are running away from discussion,” Baghel stated.

Meanwhile, reacting over Chief Minister’s statement former CM Raman Singh said that more than 1 lakh farmers in the state are still waiting to sell their paddy.

“The government should at least purchase paddy from those farmers who have been issued tokens,” he told reporters.