Lashing out at the Congress, BJP, and Shiromani Akali Dal, Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Punjab unit president Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said that the entire drama, being done by the Union Minister Hardeep Puri over the role of former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal in the passing of the farm laws and SAD president Sukhbir Badal’s comment against it, is nothing but an attempt to torpedo the protests being done by farmers.
Mann said that Sukhbir and Puri’s attempt to mislead the people of Punjab and gain political gains will fail, as the people of Punjab now have become more aware. “AAP and all Kisan Unions want the minutes of the Cabinet Meeting to be made public, this will make it clear as to who played what role in the passing of these black laws,” he said.
He said that Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) is BJP’s B-Team and Congress is its support team. “The only thing that these parties want is to keep giving statements and torpedo the protests of the farmers,” he added.
“Forget opposing the bill, Sukhbir and Harsimrat Badal both invited BJP leaders to Punjab to speak in favour of this bill. Instead of opposing the bill, they asked the farmers to go with them to the Central Government to clarify their doubt,” said Mann.
AAP ALLEGES COTTON FARMERS FORCED TO SELL PRODUCE BELOW MSP
Senior AAP leader and MLA Baljinder Kaur on Sunday said that cotton farmers from Malwa are being forced to sell their produce below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) because the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) hasn’t started their procurement yet.
“Cotton MSP was set between Rs 5,515 and Rs 5,725 per quintal, but the produce are being procured at Rs 4,000 to Rs 4,500 per quintal. Moreover, businessmen are claiming that they are unable to purchase the produce because of the high moisture content,” said Kaur adding that the farmers are now left with no option but to sell their produce at below MSP.
She said: “Farmers are stating that this is the reason that they are being forced to sell their paddy and grain produce early because the government ensured MSP on these crops. However, as per the new law passed by the Modi government, these two crops would also be given in the hands of the private players.”
AAP leader stated that the government forced the farmers to grow maize, cotton, lentils, and vegetables to promote crop diversification, but they didn’t focus on its procurement and marketing. “Instead of promoting diversification of crop, the government became successful in destroying farmers further,” she said.