Chandigarh, Apr 24 (UNI) The Federation of Aarhti Associations of Punjab has demanded that the bonus of Rs 50 on the wheat sold to the government should also be applicable to that sold to private agencies and agents.

''It is hurtening to know that the bonus was announced by the Union government only on the wheat procured by the government agencies and the farmers who sold the produce to private traders will be deprived of the bonus,'' Federation president Bal Krishan Singla said in a statement issued here today.

He said that either the state government or the Centre should pay the difference between the selling price to the private traders and the government.

The quantity of wheat sold to the private traders till today has been about six lakh metric tonnes which was purchased at the rate of Rs 670 per quintal. However, the government procured the wheat at Rs 700 per quintal. Thus, the total amount which should be paid by the government, for the wheat already sold to the private buyers, came out to be Rs 18 crore, Mr Singla said.

He appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to consider the payment of bonus to the farmers who sold their produce to the private traders.

UNI PS YA KP1606