MALOUT: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today said it was shocking that wheat procurement had not started and that farmers were suffering in Mandis even as chief minister Bhagwant Mann was holidaying in five star comfort and planning foreign trips.
The SAD president, who visited this Mandi and interacted with farmers, said it was shocking that even after the “mahurat” of procurement and distribution of “ladoos” by cabinet minister Baljit Kaur eleven days back, the wheat produce of farmer Darshan Singh of Jodhpur village was yet to be procured.
Farmers at the Mandi told the SAD president that wheat was not being procured on the pretext of excess moisture even through the produce was completely dry now. They also complained that gunny bags were yet to arrive at the Mandi and that even basic facilities like drinking water were not available to them.
Mr Sukhbir Badal also interacted with Arhatiyas who said there was no space in Mandis to store incoming wheat and that a shortage of labour and gunny bags were severely hampering the procurement process.
They also asserted that this was the first time in the history of the State that more than 80 per cent of the wheat had come to the Mandi but was still awaiting procurement.
Mr Badal said chief minister Bhagwant Mann was squarely responsible for this state of affairs. “The CM was first holidaying in a 5 star hotel in Jaisalmer. Now he is going abroad instead of visiting the Mandis and reviewing the procurement process”. He said it was even more shameful that instead of accepting responsibility for procuring wheat Bhagwant Mann was concocting ‘kiklis’ in an attempt to disparage him.