Union agriculture minister Ram Vilas Paswan while rejecting the demand of Chhattisgarh government to procure additional rice from the state for the central pool has reasoned that bonus announcement (on paddy) destabilized the market and already pushed food grain prices upwards.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel while presenting the letter before media here at Mantralaya demanded that BJP should clarify its stand whether farmers should get Rs 2,500 on paddy procurement or not.
He lambasted the Union government for not relaxing the rules of MoU for rice procurement from state government.
“When the rules were relaxed during the BJP regime in the state then why it should not be slacked now?” he questioned.
According to the Chief Minister his party was going to live up to the poll promise of paying Rs 2,500 on one quintal of paddy procured.
To BJP’s allegations of not getting the invitation for attending the all-party meeting, he claimed that BJP MPs were sent proper invitation but they refused to join the meeting.
“BJP MPs despite getting information did not participate in the meeting. They should not spread lies,” the Chief Minister warned.