Paddy procurement: TRS in a fix as Centre turns tables on Telangana govt

New Delhi: In a tit for tat, the BJP government has responded to the protest staged by the TRS in Delhi on Monday clarifying that the Centre will not buy parboiled rice from any state in the country. Sudhanshu Pandey, Secretary, Union Ministry of Civil Supplies, made the key statement at a press conference in Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, Sudhanshu Pandey said, "Currently, parboiled rice is not being bought from any state, including from Punjab. The Food Corporation of India does not procure grain directly, he pointed out. Why is this problem arising in Telangana when there is no problem in its neighbouring state Andhra Pradesh? He questioned. We are already adopting a procurement policy in the country, he declared.

It may be recalled that for the past few months TRS and BJP are leveling allegations and counter allegations against each other over the procurement of paddy. TRS leaders as the last resort accompanied by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao staged a dharna in front of Telangana Bhavan in Dehi demanding a common procurement policy for the entire country. 

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, who fought against farm laws and succeed in repealing them, joined the TRS protest to express his solidarity with agitating TRS leaders. But, the Central government’s statement on paddy procurement may enhance the political slugfest between TRS and BJP further.