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.
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.
“The chief minister can concoct 100 ‘Kiklis’ for all I care. But he should not punish the farmers. I advise him to ensure prompt procurement and lifting to put an end to the suffering of the farmers”.
Badal also visited Kabarwala and Pakki Tibbi villages in Muktsar district where standing wheat crop has been completely destroyed across 700 acres of land. Farmers on the spot told Mr Badal that they had tried their best to prevent the spread of the fire but that strong winds thwarted their efforts.
The SAD president also talked to the Sri Muktsar Sahib deputy commissioner and informed him that loose electricity wires resulted in short circuiting of transformers. He requested the deputy commissioner to take up the case for award of full compensation to the affected farmers with Powercom.
He also announced that the Shiromani Akali Dal would also disburse wheat to effected farmers and try to help them to the best of it’s ability.
Former MLA Malout Harpreet Singh, Pawanpreet Badal, Parminder Singh Kolianwali, Basant Singh Kang, Lappi Enna Khera and others also accompanied the SAD president.