.....Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann cancelled the decision to turn private silos into mandi yards
SAD-BJP government took this anti-farmer decision to turn private silos into procurement centres to give benefits to private players, says Barsat
47 more mandis have been set up than last year, total 1907 procurement centres will be functioning for the convenience of our farmers: Barsat
Chandigarh April 02 (Agency) : Chairman of Punjab Mandi Board and the Aam Aadmi Party, Punjab General Secretary Harchand Singh Barsat has vehemently refuted the false information being given in some sections of the media that 26 marketing committees have been dissolved and their management has been given to private silos. He clarified that the no market committee is dissoluted and there is no plan of dissolution either.
Barsat informed that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has cancelled the decision to convert private silos into mandi yards. This decision has been taken keeping in mind the demands of the farmers. He said that the decision to make the silos a mandi yard was taken in 2013 by the SAD-BJP government and since then they used to turn silos into procurement centres but this year CM Mann de-notified this decision.
Mandi Board Chairman said that as far as the number of procurement centers is concerned, every year new procurement centers are established keeping the convenience of farmers in mind. As of now Punjab has a total of 1907 procurement centers. This time 47 new centres are added. The number of mandis is increased every year keeping the convenience of the farmers in the main. Last year there were 1860 purchase centers and this year the number is 1907, which is 47 purchase centers more than last year.
He said that 3 silos in 2013, 1 silo in 2014, 4 silos in 2015, 1 silo in 2017, 4 silos in 2018, 1 silo in 2019, 1 silo in 2021, 10 silos in 2023 were declared as procurement centers. In the year 2024, 12 silos were also declared as procurement centers, but the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann decided to not turn any private silo into a procurement.
Barsat said that under the leadership of Punjab's Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Maan, proper arrangements are made for the upcoming procurement season in Punjab. Farmers, laborers, artisans and traders, all are kept in mind while making arrangements. Markets are cleaned, potable water, electricity, shaded places to sit etc. all is provided in the mandis. The chairman of the Punjab Mandi Board, denying any news of dissolving mandis, has assured that the Punjab Government and the Mandi Board work and will continue to work according to the convenience of farmers, laborers, artisans and traders.
Kang cornered Harsimrat Badal and Pratap Bajwa for not opposing it during their governments and turning private silos into mandis
Says, Mann, who understands the pain of our farmers, de-notified it on priority
AAP Punjab chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said that Punjab's honourable Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has put a stop to converting private silos into private mandis, it was started by Akali-BJP in 2013 and then Congress followed suit. He cornered Harsimrat Kaur Badal for not opposing when it was their government in the state. She stayed silent during Congress's rule too. In the SAD-BJP government 6 private silos were converted into private mandis. But not a single word came out of Harsimrat Kaur Badal ji's mouth. She stayed silent because SAD-BJP and Congress all are the same and all were involved with corporate houses.
Kang also cornered Pratap Singh Bajwa that during their government eight private silos were converted into private mandis. Silos were given the form of private mandis, why was it not de-notified then? Today Bhagwant Singh Mann, who understands the pain of farmers, de-notified it. He requested the farmer leaders and farmers to question these leaders about this. He added that it is not a surprise for anyone as all traditional political parties are anti-farmers. They never took any decision in the interest of the farmers because their own interests were greater.
Delighted Kang congratulated all party leaders and workers on Sanjay Singh's bail, calls it victory of truth
While addressing the media he also expressed his delight on the news of AAP senior leader Sanjay Singh's bail. Kang said that, unlike Akali and Congress leaders of Punjab, Sanjay Singh had actually opposed the anti-farmer bills with great zeal. He added that ED have no evidence against him or any other AAP leader because there was no scam. This is just a conspiracy to stop us but they won't be able to do so because after all truth always prevails.