Farmers Movement Archive

Will make you rot in jail if you dupe MP farmers: Agriculture minister to traders

BHOPAL: After reports of frauds, leading to financial loss of many Madhya Pradesh farmers, agriculture minister Kamal Patel has warned that strict action will be taken against traders who try to dupe the farmers. One of the biggest frauds was reported from Dewas last week where almost 150 farmers of four districts were duped to the tune of Rs 5 crores - Rs 7 crores. These farmers had sold around 1,131 quintal chickpea and 1,291 quintal green gram to two Dewas-based traders - Suresh and Pawan Khoja – who promised them prices above the minimum support price (MSP), citing new farm laws for purchase outside the mandis. These traders purchased white chickpea and green gram from the farmers in the open market and failed to pay them. Some farmers were given cheques, which bounced. A group of 22 farmers later met the SDM of Khategaon and lodged a complaint on December 30. Farmers alleged that they were promised Rs 6,000 per quintal for moong and Rs 7,000 per quintal for chana, and payment within two days of purchase of crops, which didn’t happen. Farmers from Nasrullaganj in Sehore district, Harda and Hoshangabad were also duped by the Khoja brothers. Other cases of fraud were also reported from Seoni, Gwalior, Balaghat, Barwani and Jabalpur districts. In another incident, 13 farmers allegedly incurred a loss of Rs 20 lakh in Guna when cheques of three traders bounced, leading to a loss of Rs 20 lakh . The police have registered an FIR. Referring to these frauds, Kamal Patel said, “We initiated action against Khoja traders; they have been arrested. Now we will confiscate their property to give the money of farmers.” Warning all the erring traders, he said, “Don’t dupe farmers or we will take strict action against you. We will not only confiscate your property but also make you rot in jail by initiating NSA”. He also “requested” the farmers to first get money in their account and then hand over their produce to traders.

The Times of India

2021-01-02

Bhopal