Sukhbir threatens protest over delayed payment to farmers
BATHINDA: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday threatened to launch an agitation if the Punjab government does not streamline the wheat procurement system by the weekend.
Sukhbir, who visited grain markets at six places in Bathinda and Moga, said farmers are being harassed due to delayed purchase.
Lamenting the Punjab government’s failure to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, he demanded an investigation into the claim that the state has spent Rs 1,000 crore to strengthen health infrastructure to fight the spread of the infection.
Covid norms violated
In view of the pandemic, the state government has banned all social and political gatherings. Gatherings of more than 20 people, including weddings and cremations, have also been banned across the state.
On Thursday, Bathinda reported three more deaths and 445 fresh Covid cases, taking the active cases to 2,848.
Sukhbir visited the two purchase centres with a large group of his party workers and public relations team. As he was blaming the state for the rising number of Covid-19 cases, several of his team members at Goniana and Maluka were seen violating Covid-appropriate behaviour.
On Wednesday, the district police arrested eight people after registering an FIR for hosting a celebratory function in which more than 20 people were present at the Civil Lines Club.
Sukhbir himself did not adhere to social distancing and several among his team were without masks.
“More than 40% of farmers await payment and the chief minister has not intervened. In the interest of farmers, the SAD will wait for the government’s action to redress farmers’ problems in the next three days,” he said. Deputy commissioner B Srinivasan said he would seek a detailed report from the district mandi officer.