Rice millers8217; ultimatum

PHAGWARA, Oct 5: Over 2500 rice millers of the state would shut down their rice mills from October 13 and 8220;hand over the keys8221; to Union Fertiliser and Chemical Minister Surjit Singh Barnala and Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Madan Mohan Mittal that day at New Delhi and Chandigarh in case demand of increased milling rates was not accepted by October 10.

This ultimatum was served at the general body meeting of the Punjab Rice Millers Association held here today . The shut-down strike would precede by a state level rally in Sangrur on October 12, association president H S Baggar said while addressing media persons. Sangrur is the constituency of Union Minister Surjit Singh Barnala.

The millers constituted an eleven-member action committee to spearhead their 8220;decisive struggle8221;. Muna Lal Bansal would be its convener. Millers are demanding increase in milling rate from Rs 13.20 per quintal to Rs 70 and fixation of ratio of rice from paddy as 60 kg per quintal as against 67 kg per quintal.

Baggar declared to oppose the SAD government on political front since it was busy in raising non-issues like Udham Singh Nagar while the state8217;s agro-based economy was getting ruined.

He alleged that efforts were made to sabotage their gathering by preventing millers from reaching venue of meeting.