Congress plans 'jail bharo' stir over paddy procurement in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Opposition Congress in Chhattisgarh will hold "fill the jails" protest from Wednesday against ruling BJP government's decision to restrict procurement of paddy to 10 quintals per acre at the given MSP in current Kharif season.

Congress has been demanding a hike in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to Rs 2,100 from Rs 1,345 (2013-14), which the BJP had assured of looking into in its manifesto for Assembly elections held last year.

"The party has decided to stage 'Jail Bharo Andolan' from November 5 to November 10 in all 199 development blocks followed by a torch rally in all villages from November 10-20 against the anti-farmer adjustments made by the state government in paddy procurement policy," CGPCC general secretary Shailesh Nitin Trivedi told PTI today.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting of the party office-bearers yesterday, which was chaired by state unit chief Bhupesh Baghel, Trivedi said.

He also termed as "successful" the Congress' day-long "economic blockade" held on November 1.

"Even after that if the government does not take back its decision, a massive public meeting would be organised by Congress to 'gherao' the residence of chief minister (Raman Singh) in Raipur," Trivedi said.

Congress has been protesting against the Raman Singh government's recent move to limit procurement of paddy to 10 quintal per acre. The government has asked cooperative societies to start this process from December 1.

The decision drew a sharp criticism from the main opposition party as well as several farmers' associations which claimed that it will cause huge losses to farmers as paddy production in the state varies between 15 to 20 quintals per acre.