nThe Chhattisgarh Assembly was adjourned after the opposition and treasury benches ended in a verbal duel over the demand for procurement of paddy from November 1 and 20 quintals per acre during a two-day special session on Tuesday.

Raising the issue, BJP MLA Shivratan Sharma said harvesting has begun and the paddy has started to arrive in the agriculture market (Mandi). If the government procurement is delayed to December, farmers will be at a loss as they will face       problems of storage and other issues.

He urged Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to begin  procurement from    November 1.

BJP MLA Narayan Chandel said the Central   government has sanctioned procurement of 60 lakh tonnes of rice from the state. So, from each farmer 20  quintals of paddy per acre must be bought.

BJP's Ajay Chandrakar said the government is yet to pay the difference amount of paddy procurement done at Rs 2,500 per quintal while the new Kharif season has arrived.

As Diwali falls on November 15, procurement should commence from November 1, if the government is concerned about farmers, he said.

BJP's Brijmohan Agrawal said the opposition will      support the government if the procurement date is fixed as November 1 by law and 25 quintals per acre is procured. The government can buy it at even Rs 3,000 per quintal.

But payment should be made within three days or there will be action as per central law.

Former Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh pointed out that at present at the Bhatapara agriculture market, paddy is being procured at Rs 1,670-1675 per quintal which is an unbearable loss to the farmers. The amount is much lower than the          minimum support price.

He too sought procurement from November 1.

Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik spoke in the same voice after which both benches started to raise slogans and counter-slogans, leading to chaos. The Speaker then adjourned the House for five   minutes.