Stalin Slams Centre for Rejecting Tamil Nadu’s Plea on Paddy Moisture Norms

By A Staff Reporter

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday strongly criticised the BJP-led Union government for rejecting the state’s request to relax the moisture content norms for paddy procurement. Calling the decision “deeply unfair” to Tamil Nadu’s farmers, Stalin urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene immediately to prevent large-scale losses for cultivators already battling unpredictable weather patterns.

Stalin said that due to recent rains and high humidity in several districts, farmers were unable to bring their paddy to the prescribed moisture level within the short window available for procurement. He added that the state government had repeatedly explained the ground reality to the Centre and sought temporary relaxation of norms, similar to concessions granted during previous adverse seasons.

The Chief Minister warned that the Centre’s refusal would result in thousands of tonnes of paddy being rejected at procurement centres, pushing farmers into distress sales and financial hardship. He also accused the Union government of being insensitive to the challenges faced by Tamil Nadu’s agricultural community and alleged that the decision once again reflected its “anti-farmer attitude.”