Jalandhar, March 31
Former Education Minister and MLA Pargat Singh said that unseasonal rain and hailstorm, just before the wheat harvest, have once again caused heavy losses to farmers in Punjab. Farmers have not yet recovered from the earlier damage caused by floods, and now rain and hailstorm have devastated their crops. The government is also not showing seriousness regarding the storage and procurement of wheat in mandis. Commission agents are on strike as well, leaving farmers distressed from all sides.
Pargat said that the Aam Aadmi Party, which claims to be pro-farmer, has now turned against farmers. The BJP was already anti-farmer, and now the Aam Aadmi Party, following the same path, seems determined to harm farmers and agriculture. Punjab has always been the food provider of the country, and the Congress has always stood firmly with farmers to protect it.
Pargat added that in recent times, the Aam Aadmi Party government appears to view Punjab’s farmers and agriculture as adversaries. During the floods, the government did not provide significant relief to farmers. Neither was compensation announced according to the extent of damage, nor was it actually delivered. Even now, no concrete steps are being taken to help farmers suffering due to rain.
Pargat urged the government to immediately extend help to farmers and announce proper compensation for crop losses so that farmers in Punjab can feel some relief. He emphasized that the condition of agriculture and farmers in Punjab has been deteriorating for some time. Due to natural calamities, farmers are on the verge of ruin. These disasters—rain and storms—are breaking their backbone. Farmers in Punjab largely depend on two main crops: paddy and wheat. The wheat crop sustains their households, and these very farmers feed the entire nation.
Pargat also said that instead of serving former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should focus on the concerns of Punjab’s farmers. Only if farmers survive can agriculture and food security be sustained. The farmer who feeds the nation is now struggling to feed himself and is becoming dependent on governments. There is a need to strengthen them. He urged the Chief Minister to step forward to save Punjab’s farmers and fulfill his responsibility towards them. He also stated that the government should stop using force against farmers and detaining them.
