Bhupinder Singh Hooda lashes out at Haryana govt over chaos in grain markets

KURUKSHETRA: Haryana leader of opposition (LoP) Bhupinder Singh Hooda visited the grain market at Shahabad and Pipli in Kurukshetra district on Sunday. During his visit, Hooda alleged that the state government has failed to streamline paddy procurement and till date, the farmers and arhtiyas have not received any payments which should have been made within 72 hours.
Hooda inspected ongoing paddy procurement at the mandi and alleged that the farmers are being harassed.
He lashed out at the government for the total collapse of mandis in the state as he said there are no purchases, no MSP (minimum support price) for farmers, no gunny bags to pack whatever crops arrive, no gate passes, no lifting and no payment to farmers who sell their crops.
Hooda said that it looks as if the government has made up its mind to harass not only the farmers but all those who are involved in the broader agricultural eco-system.
“It seems as if farmerare is being intentionally harassed because they are lining up to sell their paddy but the government has not even been able to run the official portal, even two weeks after the process was started. The government has taken days to repair a problem that should have taken a few seconds,” he said.
“Sometimes the portal stops functioning, sometimes the farmers are being harassed in the name of excessive moisture and there are also frequent complaints about the moisture measuring machines. Farmers have been camping in mandis for many days, but their crops are not being purchased. Farmers are forced to put their yellow gold (paddy) on the road,” he added.
Hooda said while the farmers are desperate to sell their paddy and start planning for the next crop, the government has been able to purchase barely 5 to 10% of the crops that has arrived in the markets. “This has led to a situation where the farmer is selling his crop to private agencies at whatever price they are offering,” Hooda said, indicating how the new system is working out.
“The farmers have not been paid yet for the procured paddy since October 25. The government should buy paddy, millet, maize and cotton as soon as possible and give farmers the benefit of MSP. Not only this, the government should compensate farmers who have sold their crops under compulsion at a low rate,” Hooda demanded.
He said by implementing three new agricultural laws, the government has allowed private agencies to loot the farmer. The private agencies are taking advantage of the chaos and disorder in mandis and are buying the paddy of the farmer at Rs 500 to Rs 1000 per quintal below MSP while maize farmers are being forced to sell at Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 per quintal. Hooda said millet and cotton farmers are facing a similar fate.
Hooda said the farmers’ plight has pushed the BJP in a state of chaos as their leaders cannot make up their mind that whether to stand with the farmer or with the government.
“On one hand the BJP MLAs are protesting against the chaos at the mandis, on the other hand the BJP leaders are rallying in Gohana and claiming that everything is all right. If BJP leaders have to see the reality then they should leave the political stage and come to the mandis like us and talk to the farmers,” Hooda said.