SAD protests tardy procurement, black marketing of DAP fertiliser in Amritsar

The Shiromani Akali Dal staged a protest at the District Administrative Complex here on Tuesday. The party accused the state government of tardy procurement and lifting and black marketing of DAP (di-ammonia phosphate) fertiliser.

Leading the protest, former Cabinet minister and senior SAD leader Gulzar Singh Ranike accused the Central Government of unnecessarily harassing farmers of the state. “There is no problem in procurement of paddy in other states. There is also no shortage of DAP fertiliser elsewhere except for in Punjab. It seems that the Central Government is meting out step-motherly treatment to state farmers and trying to punish them,” he said.

Ranike said farmers are not getting a fair price for their produce and in most cases, they have sold their parmal crop at less than the minimum support price (MSP). The procurement process of agricultural produce was always conducted smoothly during the previous governments.

“It is an administrative failure on the part of the AAP government, especially Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann,” said Ranike, adding that making fertilisers available is the equal responsibility of Central Government and the state government and both cannot run away from it.

The SAD leaders also submitted a memorandum addressed to the Governor to local officials. Party leaders stated that SAD is a party which represents the interests of poor people. They stated that fight against the Centre and the state government on the issues of general public would continue.

Meanwhile, SAD workers staged a dharna in front of the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) at Khadoor Sahib on Tuesday. The protest was led by Ravinder Singh Brahampura, former MLA. Speaking on the occasion, Brahampura said that farmers in Punjab are currently grappling with a shortage of DAP fertiliser and inadequate paddy procurement. He blamed the Centre and AAP govt for the problems.

Brahampura highlighted the deteriorating state of affairs under the current government, noting a lack of control and administration, particularly in addressing the dominance of gangsters in Punjab. He emphasised the growing sense of insecurity among citizens due to threats and extortion calls by criminal elements, signalling a failure on the part of the state government to ensure public safety.