A day after statement of Agriculture and Sugarcane Development Minister Randhir Singh that Krishi Bazaar Samiti will not be dissolved, the Jharkhand Assembly echoed demands for dissolving the Samiti else stripping down items, which are not part of agriculture products from the list of items that is usually traded at the place and cut down turn over tax.
The issue was raised by Bokaro MlA Biranchi Narayan who also termed remarks of Agriculture Minister against people advocating abolition of Bazaar Samiti as “unfortunate” and sought the State Government’s clarification over the Minister’s remarks that the Bazaar Samiti will not be abolished. As reported, the Minister had also expressed that people demanding its abolition are selfish.
The Bokaro MlA reminded the House that Chief Minister Raghubar Das had assured that any decision on Bazaar Samiti will be taken after a duly undertaken review process. later, Singh expressed regret at his comments on the issue of Bazaar Samiti.
“The issue doesn’t end there. The provision under which Krishi Bazaar was established doesn’t exist anymore and new items have been added from time to time. Either the government should abolish the Bazaar Samiti else they remove those items which are not related to agriculture like fisheries products, animal products and plywood. Also, they should stop charging one percent turnover tax,” said the Bokaro MlA. Interestingly, the Minister Agriculture made a u-turn at his reported statement that there is no plan to abolish Bazaar Samiti.
The house was also on boil over alleged dilly-dallying over the fate of Bazzar Samiti and the review process that was assured of on the floor of the house. Notwithstanding the demands of abolishing the Bazaar Samiti the department of Agriculture and Sugarcane Development has roped in Jaipur based National Institute for Agricultural Marketing (NIAM) to revamp the samiti by suggesting short term and long term plans.
“I had discussions with officials during a programme on Wednesday however no decision has been taken on this issue. But it is also true that some businessmen are exerting pressure to abolish Bazaar Samiti,” said Singh.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Roy clarified government’s stand on the issue and expressed that whatever exercises that are being taken by the Jaipur based institution should be considered as part of the review process which was assured by the CM to the house. Despite discordant voices regarding Bazaar Samiti that surfaced within the ruling party, Roy suggested that the government may not do away with the present system.
“It is department’s wish to make Bazaar Samiti work and for that they have roped in NIAM which will advise government however those suggestions must be understood as part of the review process and it will not affect the review process,” said Roy. The issue of alleged corruption at Bazaar Samiti had stirred up controversy with demands raised by businessmen to abolish it completely.