The Fact News Service
Nawanshahar, November 13
Youth Akali Dal President Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjer today lashed out at Aam Aadmi Party led Punjab Government for ordering closure of 300+ Mandis in the middle of the procurement season.
Jhinjer expressed this when he visited the Grain Market of Village Dupalpur, District Nawanshahar yesterday evening.
Talking to the media after his visit, the Youth Akali Dal President said, “It’s saddening to see the plight of our farmers that have been facing hassle in the Mandis for the past one month now. It’s strange to see that the Bhagwant Mann led Aam Aadmi Party government has ordered the closure of over 300 Mandis, even though the procurement of paddy is still going on and the Grain Markets are overflowing with Paddy which isn’t being procured in a timely manner. How does this make any sense, take for instance this Dupalpur Mandi, the government has ordered closure of this Mandi, even though the trollies of Paddy are still incoming as we speak and there are already heaps of crop lying in Mandi, which hasn’t been procured. So are the farmers now supposed to take their produce from this Mandi to some other Mandi.”
He further highlighted, “What’s even worse is that for the first time our farmers aren’t even being paid the proper amount, cuts of over 300 rupees are being enforced on them. They are blatantly being harassed and underpaid, given one excuse or another. This is the most important period for our Annadatas and we also don’t want to come in the Mandis and protest, but we have been forced to protest because of the administration failure of Bhagwant Mann government who failed to make timely arrangements.”
Jhinjer further said, “The tardy pace of lifting has already caused us a plethora of problems, usually by this time of November our farmers are already free of the procurement process of paddy and are in the process of sowing rabi crops. Never once in the last 70 years, have the farmers faced so much hassle in the Mandis.”
He further urged the Youth of Punjab saying, “I urge our youngsters to stand up and speak up now, visit every Mandi that this government has ordered to be closed and show the truth to the people of Punjab that the Mandis are overflowing with Paddy, and the government is turning a blind eye to it.”
The YAD President said, “This issue isn’t only affecting the Farmers, Arthiyas or labourers, instead it’s impacting the whole of Punjab as the farmers aren’t getting money and the whole economy is bearing the burnt, farmers had to celebrate black diwali, which lead to low footfall at the markets also, causing losses to traders as well.”
