SAD asks Governor to dismiss Bharat Bhushan Ashu for botching wheat procurement process
(Sikander S Maluka holds Ashu responsible for lack of gunny bags and resultant chaos in mandis)
Chandigarh, April 20 – The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today urged Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore to dismiss Food and Civil Supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu from the State cabinet for botching the entire wheat procurement process besides directing the government to ensure availability of gunny bags and ensure timely lifting of wheat from the mandis.
In a statement here, the Kisan Wing President also took on chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh for failing to take stock of the procurement process resulting in total chaos in the mandis besides leading to untold misery to the farmers of the State. “It seems the chief minister, like the central government, is least concerned about the welfare of farmers and has left them to their fate”.
Sikander Maluka said never before in the history of the State had the government been caught so off guard as present. “It is clear that no attempt was made to prepare for the procurement season which is a regular feaure. The government did not issue tenders in time for purchase of gunny bags. It even faulted in purchasing used gunny bags with the Haryana government purchasing a majority of such bags available in the market by issuing a tender ten days before the Punjab government”.
Asserting that Ashu had done nothing but lie to the farmers, Mr Maluka said Ashu lied that the central government did not give permission to the State to open tenders for gunny bags when the Haryana government had already done so. “Similarly he lied about the preparation in mandis and boasted about providing foot operated taps, sanitizers and masks for the convenience of farmers during pandemic times”. He said leave providing any of these facilities; even power facility had not been provided at many mandis.
Maluka said earlier also under Ashu’s stewardship large scale irregularities and corrupt activities had come to light during the paddy procurement season. “Thousands of tonnes of paddy was purchased by Congressmen from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar at cheap rates and sold to government agencies in Punjab. This season also there were reports of truckloads of wheat from Rajasthan finding its way to Punjab. Bharat Bhushan Ashu has done nothing to stop these activities. In fact nothing has been done to probe the paddy procurement scam which had surfaced in October last year”.
The SAD Kisan Wing President said another scam was in the making this season. “The Food and Civil Supplies minister is announcing that special food operated taps as well as sanitizers and masks have been provided in all mandis of the State whereas the actual picture is altogether different. It is clear that plans are afoot to cheat the exchequer of crores of rupees”.
Maluka also stated that farmers were suffering because the online portal for making payments to farmers was not working properly. He said due to this payments were being delayed. “An alternative system should have been put in place to ensure farmers do not suffer in any many whatsoever”, he added
