Take swift action on farmers’ issues, says Vyapar mandal chief

Bajrang Garg, president of the Haryana Vyapar Mandal, has urged the state government to take swift action to address the concerns of farmers and commission agents (arhtiyas).

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Speaking to the media here today, Garg expressed serious concern over the deteriorating health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on a hunger strike. Garg appealed to the Punjab Government to prioritise Dallewal’s health and urged the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana to engage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister to resolve the crisis.

Garg criticised the government for neglecting both farmers and arhtiyas, accusing it of failing to provide solutions to their grievances. He stated that farmers were struggling due to the unfulfilled promises regarding minimum support price (MSP) purchases, while arhtiyas were being denied their rightful 2.5 per cent commission. He demanded that the government should enact a law to ensure that all grains were procured at the MSP and arhtiyas were compensated with the mandated commission.

He said faulty government policies had brought farmers and arhtiyas to the brink of financial ruin. Garg said the prolonged protests and border closures between Punjab and Haryana had adversely impacted trade and industry, particularly in districts like Ambala, Jind, Kaithal and Dabwali, where businesses had reportedly suffered a 50% decline.

“The impact of inflation and rising taxes have further compounded the hardships faced by farmers and traders. The government is imposing unreasonable tax hikes on essential goods, which has created significant resentment among the farming and trading communities,” he said.

Garg said farmers and traders were inter-dependent and added that a prosperous farming community directly benefited the economy through increased spending on essential goods and services. He urged the government to resolve these issues promptly to maintain harmony and stability in the region.

Recalling the previous farmer protests, during which nearly 750 farmers lost their lives, Garg warned that continued neglect could lead to further unrest among farmers. He called for immediate government action to address farmers’ grievances and restore trust between the farming community and the administration.