A delegation of RJD MP’s from Bihar met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Thursday and urged him to ensure purchase of at least 20 lakh tonnes of paddy from the state at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The delegation led by RJD President Laloo Prasad Yadav through a memorandum demanded that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) should open adequate number of procurement centres for this purpose. Yadav later informed that the Prime Minister gave a patient hearing to them and assured the delegation that he would look into the matter.
The memorandum said that FCI should not refuse to accept paddy from farmers on the false ground that the quality was not up to the mark. It also said that no food grains should be sent to the state from outside as it would add to the storage problems. The delegation also included Congress MP Rajo Singh and CPI-M MP Subodh Rai.
Bureau Report