Punjab School Education and PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla on Saturday lashed out at the Central Government and said that arthiyas are not middlemen as projected by BJP leaders.
He said that arhtiyas are the farmers’ support system in times of distress and happiness and also acts as backbone of the agriculture marketing sector in Punjab.
Singla said, “Whether it is the matter of sale of crops or financing needs for procurement of fertilisers, pesticides or short term loans for marriage and household needs, it is the arhtiya who comes forward to support farmers. They do act as a commission agent but it is a symbiotic and fruitful relationship.”
He added that arhtiyas are an essential part of the farming community and Modi government instead of understanding their relationship, projecting it in a negative way.
Asking BJP leaders, the Cabinet Minister said, “Can the stock exchange market function without brokerage or judicial courts function without legal advisers?”
The farmers in the agriculture sector also need firm support like arhtiyas.
The arhitya also guides his client farmers about new techniques in agriculture and in other aspects as well, he added.
Singla said that the BJP led governments, whether in Centre or in states, have been repeatedly passing laws without consulting the sectors experts concerned.