Punjab LoP Partap Singh Bajwa slams CM Bhagwant Mann over failure to procure moong at MSP

Chandigarh, July 8

Lashing out at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for his failure in getting the moong crop procured at the minimum support price (MSP), the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Partap Singh Bajwa, on Monday said the “anti-farmer” face of the Aam Aadmi Party government had been exposed once again.

The CLP leader said there had been no government purchase of moong this year so far. Over 99 per cent of the purchase has been made at the rates below the MSP of Rs 8,555 per quintal.

“Notably, the Punjab CM himself persuaded the farmers to opt for moong under the crop-diversification programme in 2022. For the third consecutive year the hapless moong farmers are forced to sell their crop at a price below the MSP. No effort has been made by the AAP government to bail out the farmers who were forced to make the distress sale,” Bajwa added.

The senior Congress leader said 85 per cent and 83 per cent farmers made distress sale of moong in 2022 and 2023, respectively. However, the Punjab CM seemed to have been least bothered about making a robust strategy on the same, he added.