Enough stock of DAP, says Saini, but Congress, INLD not convinced

Amid the Congress protests about the “unanswered question”, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini claimed that there was no shortage of DAP and sufficient stock of the fertiliser was available with the state.

Replying to the calling attention motion moved by INLD’s Aditya Devi Lal and Congress MLAs Aftab Ahmed and Jassi Petwar on the third day of the session in the Haryana Assembly, Saini said adequate stock was available in all districts. “If any member wants to know the availability, we can send a detailed reply. Shortage of DAP is only a rumour,” he stated.

However, the Congress and the INLD were not convinced and said the government had failed to answer their supplementary questions on the calling attention motion.

Former Chief Minister and Congress MLA Bhupinder Singh Hooda said timing was of essence when it came to DAP availability. “There may be enough stock now, but the government should share information about the stock availability on November 12. Once that stage for DAP is gone, availability has no meaning,” he said, though he got no reply.

Aditya Devi Lal highlighted that women were forced to stand in queues and black marketing was rampant in the state while the government was claiming there was no shortage.

Aftab Ahmed stated that he met the Nuh Deputy Commissioner, who admitted that there was a shortage, while Jassi Petwar, referring to the Uklana farmer, who died by suicide, as a "martyr", said he had land in his name.

The first-time MLA challenged the government’s claims that the farmer had “mental problem” and no land of his own. On the government’s insistence on adequate stock, Petwar said, “We don’t need DAP in the stock, we need it in the farm.”

Agriculture Minister Sham Singh Rana said the Chief Minister had explained at length during his reply on the Governor’s address that there was no shortage. “The CM spent 58 minutes on DAP in his reply, but I will give details again,” he said, adding that he was a farmer himself and knew the various stages.

He further informed the House that the data regarding the availability of DAP at the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) in the state was available with the government, and if any member required information, it would be provided. He said rumours were being spread about its shortage.

Meanwhile, Saini, responding to the motion, said, “Being a farmer's son, I understand the challenges farmers face regarding the availability of fertilisers. For the month of November, a total of 1,10,200 metric tonnes of DAP has been allocated, and 216 metric tonnes of DAP — more than the previous year — had already been provided to farmers.