Bhopal, April 9 (NationPress) The Madhya Pradesh Congress party organized statewide demonstrations on Thursday, protesting against alleged delays in wheat procurement, despite the commencement of the procurement process in four divisions, including Bhopal and Indore.

Protests erupted across several districts, with Congress activists and farmers surrounding Collector offices while chanting slogans against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government.

The wheat procurement issue has transformed into a significant political battleground at the onset of the rabi marketing season.

Umang Singhar, the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, spearheaded a protest in Sehore, the home region of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

During his speech, he accused the government of causing delays in procurement, which he claimed forces farmers into distress sales.

He raised concerns about the discrepancy between the number of registered farmers and the amount of wheat procured to date, asserting that the situation favors middlemen over the actual cultivators.

Meanwhile, state Congress president Jitu Patwari visited the agricultural produce market in Sagar district, engaging with farmers.

Farmers voiced their grievances about mismanagement, procurement delays, a shortage of gunny bags, and inadequate basic facilities at the mandi during Patwari's visit.

Patwari stated that these challenges indicate poor implementation on the ground, despite the government's claims of being prepared.

He emphasized that farmers are being compelled to wait for days with their harvest under harsh conditions, highlighting that the issue is not only logistical but also indicative of a lack of administrative resolve.

The Congress party has also accused the government of failing to fulfill its promises regarding better prices and timely procurement, asserting that these delays have driven many farmers into financial turmoil.

Conversely, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has asserted that the state is fully equipped for procurement.

He mentioned that thousands of procurement centers have been established and that sufficient arrangements, including the supply of gunny bags, are being ensured. The government has also set up help desks and control rooms to assist farmers.

While procurement at Minimum Support Price began in divisions such as Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, and Narmadapuram on Thursday, it is scheduled to commence in the remaining divisions—Jabalpur, Rewa, Sagar, Shahdol, and others—on April 15.

The state government is purchasing wheat at the Minimum Support Price of Rs 2,625 per quintal, which includes a bonus of Rs 40.