Former Haryana chief minister and Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda will tour mandis (grain markets) across the state to assess procurement arrangements and interact with farmers.
Announcing the initiative, Hooda released his preliminary tour itinerary. As per the schedule, he will begin his visit from the mandi in Sampla, his assembly constituency. He will subsequently visit grain markets in Naraingarh, Sadhaura, Barara, Ambala, Pipli, and Karnal to review arrangements. Further details of the tour will be finalised later.
Earlier in the day, Hooda arrived in Bhiwani to pay tribute to former MP Chaudhary Jangbir Singh. He offered floral tributes and met the bereaved family members to convey his condolences. Remembering the late leader, Hooda said Jangbir Singh had served the nation and society not only as an MP but also as a soldier, lawyer and social worker. “We will always remember and cherish his contributions,” he said.
Speaking to mediapersons later, Hooda said he has been receiving continuous reports from farmers about chaotic conditions prevailing in mandis across the state. He alleged that instead of procuring wheat and mustard crops at the MSP, the BJP government was imposing new conditions on farmers every day.
“Farmers are getting trapped in a bureaucratic maze involving portal registration, gate passes, guarantors, biometric verification, tractor registration numbers and multiple verification processes. As a result, they are forced to wait for several days just to sell their produce,” he said.
“Caught between the government's oppressive policies on one hand and the vagaries of the weather on the other, farmers are being crushed under the dual burden. Due to incessant unseasonal rains, the standing crops of farmers have suffered extensive damage. Under these circumstances, the government ought to immediately conduct a special Girdawari (crop damage assessment) and provide compensation to the affected farmers,” he stated.
“Instead of taking relief measures, ministers are making irresponsible statements, claiming that rainfall will increase crop yield. The Opposition demands that farmers should be given a bonus in addition to MSP,” he said.
The Leader of the Opposition said the government must streamline mandi arrangements, remove unnecessary conditions and ensure immediate procurement of crops. He said the purpose of his tour was to directly hear farmers’ grievances and convey their concerns to the government.
Hooda also said all Congress MLAs have been directed to visit mandis in their respective constituencies to raise farmers’ issues and alert both the government and the administration.
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