leader of the Haryana Congress legislature Party (ClP) Kiran Choudhry on Friday demanded a special session of the Haryana Assembly to discuss various problems of the farmers who have been “suffering” due to the anti-farmer policies pursued by the BJP Government.
In a statement issued, the former Excise and Taxation Minister said, “A special session of the State Assembly should be called immediately to discuss public issues, including the soaring prices of essential commodities, especially pulses and oils, hike in power tariff imposed by the BJP Government, water not reaching the tail ends and especially the various problems faced by the farmers.”
She pointed out that the farmers were being forced to sell their Pusa 1121 paddy at `1,828 this season, while it fetched them about `3,000 per quintal last year. The prices are dipping low due to the glut caused by the farmers from the neighbouring States selling their paddy in Haryana mandis. For `1450 per quintal variety of paddy, farmers have been paid only `1200 per quintal, which is not right.
The Congress leader said the farmers across the State are still awaiting compensation for loss of cotton crop due to whitefly attack, and are being forced to resort to distress sale of paddy at way below the MSP. She said that girdawari had been ordered by the CM about a month ago to assess the loss of the cotton crop due to the whitefly attack but till date, neither the report is out nor the farmers have been paid any compensation.