Chandigarh, Nov 5, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today held dharnas at all constituencies in the State to protest the discriminating being done unto farmers for participating in the Kisan Andolan against the three black laws by both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the State and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led central government.
The dharnas, which received a massive response from the peasantry, witnessed SAD workers condemning both the State and central governments for failing to procure paddy and forcing farmers to sell short of the minimum support price (MSP) as well as failing to release adequate DAP fertilizer to farmers for the forthcoming wheat sowing season.
The dharnas were followed by presentation of memorandums to respective Deputy commissioners & Sub-divisional magistrates. The memorandums held the AAP government responsible for failing to make arrangements for the smooth procurement of paddy.
It said the government did not coordinate with the central government to ensure movement of last year’s paddy stocks out of the State to create the necessary warehouse space for this year’s crop. “Chief minister Bhagwant Mann also encouraged farmers to sow early varieties like PR-126 but did not ensure supply of quality seed to farmers leading to transplanting of hybrid paddy varieties promoted by unscrupulous elements”.
The memorandum also condemned the manner in which the AAP government allowed imposition of cuts on farmers in connivance with State government officials leading to sale of paddy between Rs 2100 to Rs 2200 per quintal against the minimum support price of Rs 2320.
Leaders while participating in the dharnas said lakhs of metric tonnes of paddy were lying in the Mandis and could be destroyed in case of rains. “Farmers are being harassed and are forced to camp in Mandis for day’s altogether. They are also being forced to sell short of the MSP. This situation has even endangered the forthcoming wheat crop and is likely to delay wheat sowing in large parts of the State and affect the yield of the coming wheat crop”, the leaders said.
The SAD memorandum said after experiencing a Black Diwali, farmers of Punjab were in fear that their forthcoming wheat crop would also be endangered due to lack of DAP fertilizer. It said on this issue also the AAP government has failed to make the necessary arrangements.
“Earlier during the SAD tenure, then chief minister S Parkash Singh Badal used to make necessary arrangements for the movement of DAP fertilizer into the State before the advent of the wheat sowing season. Now when wheat sowing is about to start farmers are facing an acute shortage of DAP and are queuing up in vain outside Cooperative Societies.
The SAD also warned the AAP and the central government that in case immediate steps were not taken for the smooth procurement of paddy at the minimum support price, lifting of paddy from choked Mandis and release of DAP fertilizer to farmers as per their needs, the SAD will widen the scope of its agitation.EOM
 today held dharnas at all constituencies in the State to protest the discriminating being done unto farmers for participating in the Kisan Andolan against the three black laws by both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the State and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led central government.){kind=link}