Chandigarh, April 3 -- Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition, Bhupinder Singh Hooda stated on Friday that while procurement has indeed commenced in the Mandis, farmers are receiving nothing but trouble.
"Conditions such as large number plates on tractors, biometric verification, gate passes, and the requirement of three guarantors are being imposed-conditions so onerous that a frustrated farmer might simply choose to sell his produce outside the Mandi at a loss and leave," he pointed out.
He asserted that this is shaping up to be yet another scam. "Not every individual owns a tractor, after all. The government is imposing conditions that are effectively forcing farmers to sell their produce at distress prices. The Haryana govt is preparing to turn the farmer into a prisoner," he added. Hooda affirmed that "we stand firmly with the farmers and will resolutely oppose the government." Starting tomorrow, he himself, along with other party office-bearers and MLAs-will begin touring the Mandis in their respective constituencies to personally observe the ground reality.
The Leader of the Opposition further remarked that during the tenure of the Congress government, farmers consistently received the Minimum Support Price (MSP); however, under the BJP government, farmers rarely receive the full MSP.
"This season, too, the crop yield has been low. Farmers have suffered heavy losses due to hailstorms and rainfall. Yet, the government has neither conducted a special 'Girdawari' (crop damage assessment), nor provided any compensation, nor even mentioned the possibility of offering a bonus," said Hooda.
He demanded that the government immediately provide a bonus on wheat, offer compensation for crop damage, and ensure complete preparedness in the mandis. He further demanded that the restrictions currently imposed within the Mandis be lifted.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.