Date:27/09/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/09/27/stories/2002092704990100.htm

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Punjab CM courts arrest

The Punjab Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, courting arrest with his Cabinet colleagues after staging a dharna in front of the Prime Minister's residence in New Delhi on Thursday demanding an increase in the MSP for paddy. — Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI SEPT. 26. The Punjab Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, his Cabinet colleagues and the Congress MLAs and MPs today staged a `dharna' and courted arrest in front of the Prime Minister's residence here, protesting the delay in the announcement of the minimum support price for paddy.

The Chief Minister and others were taken to a police station where they were detained briefly.

Later, accompanied by the AICC general secretary, Ambika Soni, Mr. Singh, his Cabinet colleagues and the Congress MPs from the State called on the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and pressed for the announcement of the MSP.

Briefing presspersons, Mr. Singh, said the Prime Minister had assured the delegation that the Union Cabinet would consider the MSP issue at its meeting scheduled later in the evening.

He said they apprised Mr. Vajpayee about the distress sale being made by small and marginal farmers, especially those who had holdings in the border belt.

"They are selling their produce at least Rs. 200 below the price of the last MSP of Rs. 560 per quintal."

Normally, the MSP was announced by September 21 and, already, some 5 lakh tonnes of paddy had arrived in the grain markets of Punjab,he said.

Farmers, who had already sold their produce, should be paid the difference between the MSP and the selling price, he added.

Punjab also made a case against reduction of the cess, stating that the State would lose out on development of infrastructure since a majority of projects were funded from the revenue.

Mr. Singh said that depending on the Centre's announcement on MSP, the State PCC would confirm its plans whether or not to go ahead with the scheduled rail roko tomorrow.