Supply entire DAP stock by Nov 15, Mann urges Nadda

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday impressed upon Union Chemical and Fertiliser Minister JP Nadda to ensure that Punjab received by November 15 the entire quantity of DAP fertiliser allocated to it.

A state government release said the CM, who called on Nadda at his New Delhi residence, said DAP was the basic ingredient required for the cultivation of wheat. Against a requirement of 4.8 LMT DAP for sowing wheat, only 3.3 LMT fertiliser had been received so far.

Since 70 per cent of DAP was imported from other countries, so its shortage was understandable due to the ongoing Ukraine war and other international reasons, the CM said. However, he said, the need of DAP in the state was primarily till November 15, so the Centre should accord priority to sending the fertiliser to the state.

Reacting to statements made by Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu amid the ongoing protests by farmers, the CM said those “born with golden spoon” were not aware of the ground realities of the state.

Mann said he had spent his entire life in mandis and was well aware of the problems faced by farmers and labourers there. Contrary to that, wealthy, privileged and affluent Bittu was not even aware of the basic dynamics of agriculture, he said. The Union minister had no knowledge about yield, leave aside anything else, he quipped.

Training guns against the Akali Dal, Mann said the leaders who had been boasting of ruling the state for 25 years had now ran away from contesting the bypoll. He said Jathedar Sahib had never debarred the Akalis from contesting elections, but they had decided to opt out fearing debacle.