Former chief minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday stated that although procurement has begun in the mandis, farmers are facing nothing but difficulties.
“Conditions such as large number plates on tractors, biometric verification, gate passes, and the requirement of three guarantors are being imposed—so burdensome that a frustrated farmer may choose to sell his produce outside the mandi at a loss and leave,” he said.
He alleged that the situation appears to be leading towards another scam. “Not every farmer owns a tractor. The government is imposing conditions that are effectively forcing farmers to sell their produce at distress prices. The Haryana government is preparing to turn farmers into prisoners,” he added.
Hooda said the Congress stands firmly with farmers and will strongly oppose the government. Starting tomorrow, he, along with party office-bearers and MLAs, will begin visiting mandis in their respective constituencies to assess the ground situation.
The Leader of the Opposition further said during the Congress government’s tenure, farmers consistently received the Minimum Support Price (MSP), whereas under the BJP government, farmers rarely receive the full MSP.
“This season too, crop yield has been low. Farmers have suffered heavy losses due to hailstorms and rainfall. Yet the government has neither conducted a special girdawari (crop damage assessment), nor provided compensation, nor even indicated any bonus,” he said.
He demanded that the government immediately announce a bonus on wheat, provide compensation for crop damage, ensure complete preparedness in mandis, and remove the restrictions currently imposed there. He alleged that the present government is anti-poor, anti-farmer, and anti-labourer.
Responding to a question, Hooda claimed that law and order in Haryana has completely collapsed and said even the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has acknowledged Haryana as one of the most unsafe states in the country. He warned that in the coming days there could be shortages of fertilisers, including urea and DAP, along with diesel, petrol, and LPG cylinders.
Hooda also drew attention to the chaotic conditions prevailing in mandis. He said there is a shortage of gunny bags (bardana) and tarpaulins, inadequate labour availability, lack of basic facilities for farmers, and in many places transportation tenders have not yet been finalised.
“Under these circumstances, harvested crops arriving at the mandis will remain unattended due to the absence of proper procurement and lifting arrangements. Until the crops are lifted, farmers will not receive payments,” he said.
He alleged that the government is creating conditions that discourage farmers from bringing their produce to mandis, forcing them instead to sell outside at distress prices.
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