Let down by Mann govt: Dhuri farmers on tardy paddy lifting

Farmers of Dhuri are miffed as their MLA-cum-Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann hasn’t visited any grain market in the Assembly segment so far.

On October 3, the CM had gone to his native village Satauj in Sangrur where he had interacted with locals.

Jagtar Singh Samra, head, Dhuri Arhtiyas’ Association, said neither the CM nor any other minister had visited grain markets in Dhuri. On October 8, Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Rishi had visited mandi, he said.

Even no minister has visited grain markets in Sangrur, Dirba and Dhuri. Dirba is the Assembly segment of Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.

Cabinet Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal, who is an MLA from Lehra, visited the grain market 10 days ago while Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, who is an MLA from Sunam, visited Sunam mandi two weeks ago.

Farmers at Dhuri mandi termed tardy paddy procurement and lifting as a massive “failure” of the state government. They claimed that the AAP government had not initiated requisite steps to make adequate arrangements.

Jaswinder Singh of Benra village said he had been sitting at Dhuri grain market since October 23 and no procurement agency had procured his paddy so far.

Satgur Singh of Pedhni village said his 150 quintal paddy, which he unloaded at Dhuri mandi on October 23, hadn’t been procured till date.

Holding the Centre responsible for their miseries, Malkeet Singh and Sarwan Singh said they had been waiting for procurement of their produce since October 23 and October 24, respectively.

Most farmers claimed that officials concerned were not procuring paddy by citing excess moisture.