Congress Deputy leader in lok Sabha Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday regretted the damage to the wheat lying in mandis (grain markets) due to the recent rains and blamed Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal for his "negligence". Regretting the damage caused to the sacks of wheat in grain markets, Singh said that despite all warnings, the SAD-BJP Government took no initiative for lifting of the grains.
"As if nature's fury was not enough, your callous indifference and negligence has further added to the farmers' losses," said Capt Amarinder while referring to recent rains that damaged the grains lying in open in the mandis. "It was forecasted that rains were likely and it was the responsibility of the Government to take measures to secure the grains," he observed.
"Who will pay for the losses suffered by farmers and the artiyas (commission agents) due to Government's negligence," he asked. The Congress MP also alleged that even after one and a half month of procurement season, there were places like Muktsar, the CM's home district, where not even half of the wheat has been procured so far causing more damage to the grains.