People’s Party of Punjab president and former Finance Minister Manpreet Badal on Sunday took the Parkash Singh Badal-led State Government to task for its failure to make proper arrangements for the supply of urea as the crops were at a crucial stage and any further scarcity would hit the farmers hard. “It is strange that the State Government had been continuing to make tall claims about the adequate availability of urea in the State but the ground reality continues to be different and the farmers are facing hardships in getting the same, not just at any one place, but all over the State,” he said.
Manpreet said that despite reports about the problems being faced by the farmers that appear everyday, the State Government had failed to take adequate steps. “Now reports are pouring in that the farmers owing allegiance to the Akali Dal are getting preference in the supply of urea. The Government is not for a particular section or a party but for the entire State and as such, such a situation is highly condemnable,” he said.
Recalling that it was not for the first time that the State Government had failed to make adequate arrangement for the timely supply of urea, Manpreet said that this situation flew in the face of Chief Minister who had always projected himself to be the champion of the farmers. Manpreet said time was fast running out and the shortage of urea even for a few more days would damage the crops and the farmers would suffer.
He called upon the Chief Minister to make personal intervention to rectify the distortions in the supply line in case there was no shortage at other levels. “In case the supply to the state is inadequate, immediate arrangements must be made to make urea available in accordance with the demand,” he added.