Rice millers plead for withdrawal of cases

PATIALA, May 26: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has been entreated by Punjab Rice Millers' Association to order the withdrawal...

PATIALA, May 26: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has been entreated by Punjab Rice Millers’ Association to order the withdrawal of the arbitration cases initiated against the millers by Markfed and Punsup on account of losses suffered due to sale of paddy crop in 1994-95 as per the policy formulated by the government.

In a statement here, Tarsem Saini, president, Punjab Rice Millers’ Association, said during the course of various meetings Badal had been briefed by them and he had decided in principle that no penal action would be taken against the rice millers as they had abided by the instructions of the government. A time frame of one month was fixed to withdraw these cases.

The association held another meeting with the Chief Minister on August 1, 1998, in which Food and Supplies Minister, Secretary Food and Supplies, and heads of the procuring agencies were also present. Here the millers were assured that they would not face any undue harassment on this account.

He said even after the decision taken on aforesaid meetings, the arbitration cases were not withdrawn. The rice millers formed a joint front and decided not to store paddy of the government till the cases were withdrawn. He requested the Chief Minister and Food and Supplies Minister to think about the pitiable state of the rice millers. Instead of sympathising with them in problematic conditions, the government had made fun of them by giving assurances time and again and doing nothing, he rued.