Chhattisgarh govt to protest against Centre over paddy procurement

Baghel said that Congress would continue to urge the Centre to relax its stance.

THE CONGRESS government in Chhattisgarh is looking to up the ante against the Centre on the issue of paddy procurement, with plans to hold a protest in Delhi on November 15. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had reiterated in October the demand to let them acquire paddy at Rs 2,500 per quintal from the Centre and for it to buy excess paddy into the central pool. Baghel said on Sunday that the central government had turned down this request. He added that the Congress would continue to urge the Centre to relax its stance.

The issue of buying paddy at Rs 2,500 per quintal has been a contentious matter in Chhattisgarh’s politics for long. It was this promise that was often repeated by leaders and then Congress president Rahul Gandhi during the 2018 election campaign.