Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday condemned the Parkash Singh Badal Government for stalemate in mandis resulting in non-payment to thousands of farmers.
Holding the Badal Government directly responsible for the situation, Bajwa said that it betrayed the inefficiency and indifference of the State Government, besides mishandling of the procurement operations.
Bajwa pointed out that the credit limit had never been stopped midway as happened in this case after the first instalment of Rs8,000 crore was released while the second instalment of Rs10,000 crore was still awaited.
“The farmers have not been paid for the last 10 days and lakhs of tonnes of paddy is yet to be procured,” said Bajwa. He said that what was ironic that Badal had not uttered a single world on this issue against this attitude of Narendra Modi Government at the Centre in which the Akali Dal was a partner.
He said: “Credit limit is given for the entire produce to be procured on the basis of forecast made by the State Government. This limit is sanctioned by the Reserve Bank of India. Adjustments, if any, are made only after procurement season is over and not mid-way as has happened this time. It is this Government which is directly responsible for this state of affairs as it has failed to convince its own Government. Moreover, paddy is prepared on behalf of the Centre.”