Haryana Chief Minister Blasts Congress Over Farm Procurement Claims
Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Congress and other opposition parties, accusing them of deliberately misleading farmers regarding crop procurement. He firmly asserted that the current state government has established comprehensive and robust arrangements to ensure a smooth, transparent, and hassle-free procurement process across all mandis in the state.
Comprehensive Monitoring System in Place
Addressing media personnel on the issue of social security pension disbursal, Saini detailed the extensive measures implemented. Nodal officers have been appointed in every mandi, with additional chief secretary-level officers assigned district-wise responsibilities. Furthermore, ministers, MLAs, and senior officers are continuously monitoring the ground situation to prevent any inconvenience for farmers.
Criticism of Previous Congress Government
Taking a sharp dig at the previous Congress administration led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the Chief Minister claimed that during its ten-year rule, governance took a backseat, leaving farmers to suffer. He alleged that farmers faced prolonged waits of three to seven days outside mandis to sell their produce, encountered shortages of gunny bags, and often saw their crops damaged by rain, forcing them to arrange tarpaulins at their own expense.
"The Congress should clarify how many warehouses were constructed during its tenure to safeguard crops," Saini challenged. He highlighted procurement deductions, delayed payments, and even token compensation of just Rs 2 as evidence of the previous regime's insensitivity towards the agricultural community.
Commitment to Full Procurement
Asserting the unwavering commitment of his government, the CM declared, "We will procure every single grain produced by our farmers." He accused Congress policies of not being aimed at public welfare but rather serving limited interests, adding that the party has now lost touch with ground realities.
Procurement Figures and Direct Benefit Transfers
The Chief Minister provided specific data on ongoing procurement efforts. Mustard procurement, which began on March 28, has seen 16,046 metric tonnes arrive in mandis. Of this, 3,421 MT have been procured by government agencies, with the remainder purchased by private traders. A total of 1,558 MT has been lifted from mandis.
Payments amounting to Rs 4.94 crore have been transferred directly into farmers' bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer at the minimum support price of Rs 6,200 per quintal.
Similarly, wheat procurement, initiated on April 1, has recorded arrivals of 17.37 lakh metric tonnes, with 3.92 lakh metric tonnes procured so far. Saini noted that lifting operations will gain pace after the rains subside. Payments of Rs 13.09 crore have been released to farmers via DBT at the MSP of Rs 2,585 per quintal.
Swift Action on Crop Damage
Referring to crop damage caused by rains on April 6, 7, and 8, the CM reported incidents from parts of Fatehabad, Hisar, Sirsa, and Kurukshetra districts. He stated that he has personally spoken to the concerned deputy commissioners to assess the situation.
Informing farmers of immediate relief measures, Saini announced that a portal has been opened for Hisar, Sirsa, and Fatehabad districts to register crop loss claims. Similar action will be taken for other affected areas to ensure timely assistance and compensation.
