As the paddy crisis deepened in Punjab, farmers continued to protest at 51 places and the issue took political overtones , Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday called Union Home Minister Amit Shah and sought his immediate intervention. The SKM may announce protests and dharnas across the state from Thursday. Mann is understood to have apprised the Home Minister of the imminent law and order situation if the issue is not resolved. He asked the Home Minister to ensure that the Centre clears out previous years’ foodgrain stock from Punjab’s warehouses as quickly as possible to make space for this year’s rice. Rice mill owners have refused to take paddy arriving in mandis until they are given space to store fresh stock.
