Ludhiana, September 15 Calling the restrictions imposed by the central government on the export of basmati as an anti-Punjab and anti-farmer move, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has demanded an immediate withdrawal of this arbitrary decision from the Centre.

Addressing a large number of farmers who attended the fair on the last day of the two-day Kisan Mela at the Punjab Agricultural University here today, the Chief Minister said with sadness that this absurd decision of the central government will cause great economic loss to the farmers as well as the traders. He said that the Center has fixed the minimum export price of Basmati rice at USD 1200 per tonne, which will adversely affect the domestic prices of Basmati rice.

The Chief Minister said that this step of the central government is anti-farmer and anti-Punjab, which will be strongly opposed by the state government. He said that the hardworking farmers are already in crisis due to rising agricultural costs and low prices. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the highest production of basmati in the country is in Punjab and this decision of the central government will severely affect the interests of our farmers.

He said that he said that the Punjab government is also considering selling basmati rice to states like West Bengal, Kerala in view of central restrictions. He said that the Punjab government is making great efforts to promote moong, basmati and other alternative crops under crop diversification in the state, but on the other hand, such policies of the center have hampered our campaign.