Shahabad market panel to probe allegations of forced charging during sunflower buying
The Shahabad Market Committee has constituted a five-member panel to investigate allegations of unauthorised charges levied by commission agents during the sunflower procurement season.
The move comes after the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) lodged a complaint in June, alleging that commission agents at the Shahabad grain market forcibly collected Rs 100 per quintal from sunflower farmers. The complaint followed the Haryana Government’s decision to reduce the official commission on sunflower crops from 2.5% to 1%.
According to the official order, the committee has been tasked with checking agent records, recording statements from both farmers and agents, and submitting a report within 15 days.
Rakesh Bains, spokesperson for BKU (Charuni), said, “There are two associations of the commission agents at the Shahabad grain market and last month agents forced the sunflower farmers to pay Rs 100 per quintal as the government had reduced their commission. The complaint was submitted nearly a month ago, and though notices were issued to both associations, no action was taken. Now a committee has been formed, but the commission agents have been pressurising the farmers, warning they will stop handling their crop if any complaint is moved against them. The union will soon take up the issue with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.”
On the other hand, Bittu Kalra, president of the Shahabad Grain Market Commission Agents Association, denied the allegations, saying “No farmer was forced to pay extra charges during the procurement season. The complaint was moved by the union members, not the sunflower farmers. We are ready to cooperate with the committee and will provide all required documents. If any irregularity or genuine complaint from a farmer is found, the committee should take appropriate action.”
Kalra also criticised the reduction in commission, calling it economically unviable. “The government has reduced the commission on sunflower, which is not acceptable. Sunflower is a sensitive crop and is completely handled by commission agents. With such a low commission, continuing our work is not feasible. We have decided not to participate in the procurement of sunflower in the next season.”
An official from the Market Committee Shahabad confirmed that the investigation is underway but said no individual farmer has filed a complaint yet. “An investigation has been launched following the union’s complaint. However, no sunflower farmer has turned up with a complaint so far. The farmer union members who filed the complaint have been asked to record their statements on July 25. The statements of both farmers and agents will be recorded, and further action will follow accordingly,” he said.
Haryana Tribune