Politics over the slow lifting of wheat in Punjab has entered the grain markets in the district. It was Congress leader Harmandar Singh Jassi, who visited the grain market here on Saturday and expressed sympathy with the farmers over the slow lifting of wheat in the district.
On Sunday, Indian Youth Congress president and Gidderbaha MLA Amarinder Singh Raja Warring visited the grain markets in Muktsar district and accused the government of insensitivity towards the plight of farmers due to slow procurement and lifting of wheat.
The slow lifting of wheat is clear from the fact that only 63,000 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat was lifted in the district till Saturday while more that 1.18 lakh MT wheat was lifted by this time last year.
Similarly, only 65,000 MT wheat was lifted from the grain markets of Muktsar districts till Saturday. Lst year, around 1.5 lakh MT wheat was lifted from the district's grain markets till this day.
The difference in the figures of lifting as compared to last year can also be seen in the grain markets where sealed bags of wheat can be seen lying in the markets.
Slow lifting causes several problems for farmers as it results in slow process of procurement as well. Lifting of wheat bags regularly is must to create space for new arrival.
"The Punjab government has failed to give any relief to farmers in the current agrarian crisis who are already upset with low yield this year," said Raja.
{{/usCountry}}"The Punjab government has failed to give any relief to farmers in the current agrarian crisis who are already upset with low yield this year," said Raja.
{{/usCountry}}He said, "The government is not concentrating on the problems of farmers in the grain markets and the entire energy of the ruling Badal family is on directed towards saving the face of the Union government on the issue of the land acquisition ordinance which is anti-farmer."
Raja alleged, "It appears that the Punjab government wants to divert the attention of the farmers from the land acquisition ordinance by creating problems for them in grain markets. If a farmer is worried about selling his wheat, then how he will be able to concentrate on the ongoing national debate on the land ordinance."
March in Delhi
Raja said, "We will carry the agitation on slow lifting of wheat to Delhi and hold a protest march from the Youth Congress office in New Delhi at Raisina Hills to Parliament on Monday. As the problem is worse in Punjab, a large number of farmers from the state will take part in the march in Delhi."