Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana Cooperation Minister Dr Arvind Sharma on Saturday said Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is personally monitoring crop procurement arrangements across the state and has directed officials to ensure that farmers do not face difficulties in selling their produce.
During a visit to the Rohtak grain market on October 17, Sharma reviewed procurement arrangements and said the state government was committed to purchasing farmers’ produce. He stressed that procurement, lifting of crops from mandis and payments to farmers were being monitored continuously.
“The government stands firmly with farmers, and every grain of their produce will be purchased,” Sharma said, reiterating the chief minister’s instructions to officials. He added that negligence at any stage of the procurement process would not be tolerated.
What Did Arvind Sharma Say About Crop Procurement?
The minister said the government’s priority was to ensure that farmers received the appropriate price for their crops on time and that their produce was lifted from mandis without unnecessary delays.
He said officials had been instructed to keep a close watch on procurement operations and address problems faced by farmers. The government’s stated aim, he added, was to make the process smoother and prevent farmers from having to wait unnecessarily to sell their harvest.
Comparing the current arrangements with the previous Congress government, Sharma claimed that farmers earlier had to wait for two to three months in mandis to sell their crops. Under the present government, he said, the procurement process was being completed within 15 days.
The comparison was part of the minister’s criticism of the Congress, which he accused of raising political objections rather than focusing on farmers’ concerns. He said the government was concentrating on timely procurement, prompt lifting and payments.
Minister Criticises Congress Over Procurement And SIR
Sharma also criticised the Congress over its questions concerning crop procurement and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He alleged that the opposition lacked substantive issues to challenge the government and was relying on political statements.
On the SIR exercise and the demand for the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation, the minister questioned the Congress’s approach towards the Election Commission. He alleged that the party accepted the electoral process when it won elections but raised allegations of irregularities when it lost.
Sharma further accused the opposition of targeting constitutional institutions instead of accepting responsibility for electoral defeats. These remarks reflected the minister’s political position on the dispute surrounding the electoral process.
Sharma Highlights Government’s Two-Year Record
The minister also congratulated Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and the people of Haryana on the completion of two years of the state government’s current term.
He said the government was committed to the welfare of farmers, economically weaker sections, young people and other sections of society. According to Sharma, development and public welfare initiatives were continuing under the chief minister’s leadership.
The visit to the Rohtak grain market came amid the state government’s emphasis on monitoring crop procurement and ensuring that farmers can sell their produce without disruption.
BJP district president Ranveer Singh Dhaka, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ashish Kumar, chairman Harish Kaushik, former mayor Manmohan Goyal, former senior deputy mayor Rajkamal Sehgal, Hariom Bhali, officials and farmers were also present during the visit.
