Procurement crisis part of larger conspiracy: Bajwa

The Centre is deliberately not facilitating the movement of paddy from mandis as part of a larger political conspiracy, claimed Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa.

In an interview with The Tribune, under the aegis of its #DecodePunjab video show, Bajwa said the BJP’s actions amounted to an “economic betrayal” of Punjab as the party wanted to show “Punjabis their place”.

Farmers, rice millers, arhtiyas and the general public has been on the streets against “miserable” procurement and lifting of paddy from mandis, he said.

Now, the BJP has roped in former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to serve as a middleman and woo the farmers, he said.

Bajwa said, “Why is the former CM coming to mandis at the near end of the procurement season?”. He added, “Capt Amarinder has come out when the state government has raised its arms in desperation. He is being shown as an ‘avatar’ who will find a magical solution to the ongoing crisis.”

“As the state government is unable to handle procurement crisis, the BJP has reached an understanding with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. They have asked him to remain silent on the issue. The BJP has offered him support against a plot to dislodge him by the AAP central leadership,” added Bajwa.

The saffron outfit would try to mark its strong presence during four byelections scheduled on November 13, said the LoP, adding that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), SAD (Sudhar Lehar) and radicals had a tacit understanding with the BJP, thus they decided not to contest the bypolls.

“Does this surprise you? The field has been left open by a new cocktail in Punjab. The Akali Dal, SAD (Sudhar Lehar) and the radical ideology backed candidates are not contesting or have withdrawn. This leaves the entire space open for the BJP hoping to eat into the anti-Congress and anti-AAP vote bank. For the first time, the party has addressed its candidates as Sardars instead of Shri.”

On being asked about differences among the party leaders, the LoP said the Congress had been putting up a united face and the outcome was witnessed during the Lok Sabha elections.

He said as since senior Congress leaders, including Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Sukhjinder Randhawa were busy campaigning for their spouses, he had taken over the role of visiting mandis to highlight tardy procurement and the plight of Punjabis.

On leaders leaving the party to join AAP and the BJP, the LoP said those with vested interests and scared of the ED action were jumping the ship.