Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Kewal Singh Dhillon on Sunday, 11 October 2026, launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, accusing it of gross unpreparedness in paddy procurement after heavy rainfall submerged crops in mandis across the state. Dhillon said the visuals emerging from various grain markets — particularly from Fazilka — had exposed the state government's failure to protect farmers at the very start of the harvesting season.

Waterlogged Mandis in Fazilka Trigger Alarm

Dhillon said scenes from Fazilka's grain markets were 'deeply concerning,' with paddy crops cultivated through months of hard work seen submerged in rainwater. He warned that if mandis were in such a state at the beginning of the harvest, farmers could face far greater hardship in the weeks ahead. According to him, similar conditions were being reported not just from Fazilka but from multiple towns and villages across Punjab.

He specifically flagged three critical gaps: inadequate drainage facilities in mandis, a shortage of tarpaulins to shield produce from rain, and the absence of other essential procurement infrastructure. 'The lack of proper arrangements to protect farmers' produce in mandis raises serious questions about the Punjab government's preparedness,' Dhillon said.

Financial Burden Falls on Farmers, Says BJP Chief

Dhillon emphasised that farmers invest immense effort and capital in cultivation, and any damage to their produce at the mandi stage directly translates into financial loss for them — a loss for which, he argued, the state government bears direct responsibility. 'If crops nurtured like their own sons are damaged by waterlogging in mandis, the financial burden ultimately falls on the farmers themselves, for which the state government is directly responsible,' he said.

He stressed that it was unacceptable for farmers to watch the fruits of their labour destroyed before their eyes while attempting to sell their produce at government-run grain markets.

BJP Takes Aim at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann

In a pointed dig at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Dhillon said the state's top executive should focus on resolving farmers' ground-level problems rather than 'telling jokes on public platforms' — a reference critics and political observers read as an allusion to Mann's background as a stand-up comedian. This is not the first time the Punjab BJP has targeted the AAP government over agrarian issues; the party has consistently sought to position itself as the primary voice for the state's farming community since losing power in 2022.

BJP's Demands from the AAP Government

The Punjab BJP chief issued a set of immediate demands to the state government, calling on it to:

— Conduct an urgent review of conditions in mandis across Punjab;
— Assess the damage caused to paddy crops by waterlogging;
— Ensure proper drainage, adequate tarpaulins, and other crop protection measures; and
— Guarantee smooth procurement operations so farmers can sell their produce without distress.

Dhillon asserted that the BJP 'stands firmly with farmers and will continue to raise its voice to ensure that their difficulties are addressed.'

What Happens Next

The AAP government in Punjab had not issued an official response to Dhillon's allegations at the time of reporting. Paddy procurement season in Punjab typically runs through October and November, making mandi infrastructure critical for millions of farmers in the state. Any prolonged disruption — whether from inadequate drainage or insufficient tarpaulins — could affect crop quality and depress market prices, compounding distress for farmers already navigating rising input costs. All eyes are now on whether the Mann government moves to address the mandi conditions before the peak of the procurement season.