Kejriwal visits mand area, assures help to farmers

Villagers of the flood-affected areas today met Aam Aadmi Party’s national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during his visit to the mand region.

In the afternoon, he reached Baupur, accompanied with RS MP Balbir Singh Seechewal and Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora and Mohinder Bhagat, and visited a house at Rampur Gaura village. Leaders from Baupur, Sangra, and Rampur Gauhra villages expressed satisfaction at airing their grievances to him, an opportunity they had been waiting for a long time.

Ever since CM Bhagwant Mann visited them a few days ago, the villagers wanted to flag their key issues with a senior government functionary.

Villagers submitted a memorandum of their demands to Kejriwal.

At Sangra, farmer leader Kuldeep Singh handed over a memorandum of demands, stating that the Beas cannot be turned into a canal by making it concrete, therefore it must be allowed to remain a river and its natural flow must be ensured. He reiterated that farmers in the mand are not occupying the river’s land; rather, the river has encroached into the farmers’ fields.

Baupur resident Paramjit Singh said, "We had been awaiting to be given a patient hearing for long so that our leaders may know the ground situation. We are thankful that Kejriwal has patiently heard us today. We have also taken up the issue of losses to crops and people whose homes which had fallen or damaged. We are hopeful of aid being extended to the flood-hit families as per losses suffered by them. "

Kuldeep Singh also said the compensation should not be limited to five acres, instead, every farmer should be compensated according to the extent of damage to their fields. Moreover, compensation should be given directly to actual cultivators.

Kejriwal assured them that he would forward their memorandum to the Chief Minister. Kejriwal also lauded Seechewal for his help in the region. He said, "Even if someone asks for a cylinder, Baba ji makes sure the help is promptly provided. Baba ji is helping a lot in this region."