Excess of everything is bad: Mann to protesting farmers

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday termed as unjustified farm unions’ move to block roads “every other day” and said “excess of everything is bad”. The remarks come as the farmers blocked highways protesting tardy procurement of paddy in the state today.

Mann, who was in New Delhi to impress upon Chemical and Fertiliser Minister JP Nadda to ensure complete supply of the DAP fertiliser allotted to the state by November 15, said the state government had already addressed the concerns of arhtiyas and vehemently raised issues of millers with the Centre due to which procurement had picked up pace.

Mann said resorting to agitation amid the ongoing procurement season was unwarranted as it led to inconvenience to the common man. If the Centre didn’t procure the produce of millers by June 2025, the state government would do so on its own, he sought to assure farmers.

Mann said while hiccups were being created in the procurement process of paddy due to non-transportation of foodgrain purchased earlier by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), he had flagged the matter with Home Minister Amit Shah and Food Minister Pralhad Joshi.

The Chief Minister said 4 lakh metric tonne of paddy had been procured in the mandis across the state on Saturday and the process was going on smoothly.