Staff Reporter :
RAIPUR,
As the issue was raised by the entire Opposition, the treasury benches also started shouting slogans
With both benches shouting, a complete chaotic situation was created which led to suspension of Assembly proceedings for five minutes by Speaker Dr Charan Das Mahant
On the third day of the Budget Session, the entire Opposition comprising Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (Jogi) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), again raised the issue of paddy procurement and demanded an announcement from State Government whether they will procure paddy from farmers to whom tokens have been issued or not.
As the issue was raised by the entire Opposition, the treasury benches also started shouting slogans. With both benches shouting, a complete chaotic situation was created which led to suspension of Assembly proceedings for five minutes by Speaker Dr Charan Das Mahant. Former Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh said that farmers have taken to roads since last seven days. He said that in last 20 years, never ever such a situation had arose in State when the farmers had to agitate day-night on National Highway for 134 hours at a stretch.
Dr Singh said that today the farmers are on roads with their demands but it is highly unfortunate that not a single official rest alone respective District Collector visited these farmers and heard their demands. He said that the State Government also failed to make a clear-cut announcement whether it would procure paddy from 1.34 lakh farmers to whom tokens have been issued by re-opening paddy procurement drive again. Dr Raman Singh was joined by Brijmohan Agrawal, Ajay Chandrakar, Shivratan Sharma, Narayan Chandel, Dharamjit Singh, etc along with Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik in demanding a clear-cut announcement on the issue.
They also criticised State Government’s stance on the issue of farmers. This was countered by Treasury benches by raising slogans in support of ruling Congress Government. Food Minister Amarjeet Bhagat said that BJP has got no issues hence it is trying to malign the image of State Government. When, the House resumed again after suspension the entire opposition against started cornering the state government over the paddy issue seeking a clear-cut directive on paddy procurement from the government. In the midst of this mayhem Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey, readout his statement on untimely rainfall and its outcome.
He said many parts of the state received untimely rainfall and hailstorms on February 23 and February 24, 2020 and crops were damaged particularly in areas like Raipur, Koriya, Surguja, Surajpur, Balrampur, Jashpur, Bemetara, Kawardha, Durg, Rajnandgaon, etc. Due to this untimely rainfall, reports of severe crop damage of Rabi crops like wheat, pulses, oilseeds and horticulture crops have come to light. Choubey said through this House, he wants to assure the farmers that the State Government is with them in this hour of crisis. The Chief Minister has already issued directive to all district collectors to provide compensation to farmers after damage assessment of crops as per provisions of RBC 6(4). Also in affected areas compensation under Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme will be provided to farmers who have insured their crops after survey.
Accordingly directives have been issued to concerned Regional officials to complete survey along with Insurance officers immediately and after assessment of crop damage settle the claims as per norms. All field officials of Agriculture Department have been asked to carry out survey immediately. However, the opposition was not satisfied with the statement and staged Walk Out while stating that the State Government was not serious on procurement of paddy from farmers.
On returning to the House, the BJP legislators including Brijmohan Agrawal, Dharamlal Kaushik and others again raked up the issue stating that despite farmers protesting in many districts, State Government is not serious. The BJP Legislators also raised objection to the statement made by the Agriculture Minister while stating that the subject in the statement was yet to be taken in the House. It was marked for Call Attention Motion which was moved by BJP Legislative Party Leader Dharamlal Kaushik. However, the Minister refuted the charges stating that the Call Attention Motion was area centric while his statement was State centric.
