CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has expressed concern over the loss of standing wheat crop due to heavy rain and strong winds across Punjab recently and demanded compensation from the state government for the loss of crop.
In a statement issued from the party headquarters, senior leader of the AAP and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Punjab Assembly, Harpal Singh Cheema said that the recent heavy rain and storm in Punjab had caused severe damage to the standing wheat crop in the fields, which will also have a major impact on wheat yields. Cheema said that the hailstorm had hit some parts of Punjab and strong winds had knocked down the wheat. He said that the farmers were already emerging from the recession and rising inflation has broken everyone's back.
Cheema said that the rising prices of diesel, fertilizers and other essentials had taken a toll on the country and now the nature's wrath has damaged their crops. “This will reduce the yield of wheat and also increase the cost of the crop. At such a time, it was the duty of the Punjab government to take up the cause of the farmers of the state, ” he added. The LoP demanded the Punjab government to order immediate Girdawari, keeping in view the problems of the farmers. Cheema demanded from the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to immediately cordon off the area and compensate the farmers for the loss of their crops. He said that today the farmers of Punjab were being harassed from all sides.
“Already, due to the policies of the governments, the farmers have been burdened financially, ” he added. Cheema said that the debt-ridden farmers were committing suicide and now the Modi-led central government has enacted black farm laws to eradicate the farmers. “For the last several months, the farmers have been protesting against these black laws on the streets, but the Modi government at the centre has adopted a dictatorial attitude, ” he added. Cheema said that today when the Union government was resorting to inferior methods to destroy the farmers, it was the duty of the state government to take up the cause of the farmers and help them in all their troubles.