Chandigarh, Oct 11 (IANS) Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Kewal Singh Dhillon on Sunday criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over arrangements for paddy procurement, stating conditions witnessed in various mandis across the state following rainfall have exposed shortcomings in the procurement preparations.
Dhillon said visuals emerging particularly from Fazilka were deeply concerning, with paddy crops, cultivated through months of hard work, seen submerged in rainwater.
He added that if mandis were facing such conditions at the very beginning of the harvesting season, farmers could encounter even greater difficulties in the coming days.
He said that inadequate drainage facilities, a lack of tarpaulins to protect crops from rain, and the absence of other essential arrangements in grain markets had become serious problems for farmers.
Dhillon added that similar conditions were being reported not only from Fazilka’s mandi but also from other towns and villages across Punjab.
“The lack of proper arrangements to protect farmers’ produce in mandis raises serious questions about the Punjab government’s preparedness.”
He said that farmers already invest immense effort and substantial money in cultivation.
“If crops nurtured like their own sons are damaged by waterlogging in mandis, the financial burden ultimately falls on the farmers themselves, for which the state government is directly responsible.”
The Punjab BJP Chief urged the state government to take farmers’ grievances seriously and immediately ensure proper drainage, adequate tarpaulins, appropriate crop protection measures, and smooth procurement operations in mandis.
He said it was unacceptable for farmers to face difficulties while trying to sell their produce and watch the fruits of their hard work being destroyed before their eyes.
Targeting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Dhillon said that instead of telling jokes on public platforms, the state government should focus on resolving farmers’ problems on the ground.
He added that the failure to provide even basic facilities to farmers in mandis raises serious questions about the state government’s functioning.
He asserted that the BJP “stands firmly with farmers and will continue to raise its voice to ensure that their difficulties are addressed”.
He demanded that the state government immediately review conditions in mandis, assess the damage to crops, and take concrete measures to protect farmers from any potential losses.
–IANS
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