Punjab farmers struggle at paddy mandis, Congress slams AAP govt
Synopsis
Punjab Congress chief Pargat Singh has accused the AAP government of letting farmers' paddy crops rot at mandis due to poor infrastructure and delayed payments — calling out Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann by name and labelling AAP the 'BJP's B-team' in a coordinated attack on both the state and Central governments over Punjab's procurement crisis.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President Pargat Singh on 12 October attacked the AAP state government over damaged paddy crops and poor facilities at procurement centres.
Farmers allege their produce is being left unprotected at mandis despite six months of labour and expenditure.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was specifically targeted for failing to deliver on repeated promises to procure 'every single grain.' Singh alleged the Centre's policies have weakened Punjab's mandi system, and accused AAP of furthering that damage as the 'BJP's B-team.' Payments for already-procured crops are reportedly not reaching farmers on time, adding to the crisis.
Singh has directed Congress district presidents and workers to visit mandis statewide and escalate grievances with local administration.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President Pargat Singh on Monday, 12 October launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab over inadequate arrangements at paddy procurement centres, alleging that farmers' crops are being damaged due to rainfall and poor infrastructure at mandis. Singh described the situation as a 'serious failure' of the state administration.
What Farmers Are Facing
According to Singh, farmers arrive at mandis after six months of hard work, heavy expenditure, and numerous hardships, only to find their produce left unprotected from the elements. He alleged that not only are crop protection facilities absent, but payments for already-procured crops are also not being made on time. 'Farmers are being forced to struggle for the protection, procurement and timely payment of their produce,' he said.
Attack on AAP and the Centre
Singh directly targeted Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of repeatedly promising to procure 'every single grain' while failing to deliver basic mandi infrastructure. He went further, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government's policies have systematically weakened Punjab's mandi procurement system — and that the AAP, which he described as the 'BJP's B-team', is compounding the damage. 'The government, which claims to oppose the Centre's policies, must explain why advance arrangements were not made to protect farmers' produce,' he said.
Congress Pushes Back on Weather Excuse
Singh was pointed in rejecting any attempt by the state government to shift blame onto rainfall alone. 'The state government cannot evade its administrative responsibility by blaming the weather alone for the hardships faced by farmers,' he said. He argued that adequate advance planning — including covered storage, timely lifting, and payment mechanisms — was entirely within the administration's control.
What the Congress Plans to Do
Singh appealed to all Congress district presidents, leaders, and workers across Punjab to visit mandis in their respective areas, document farmers' grievances, assess procurement and storage conditions, and raise these issues firmly with local administration. The party appears to be using the procurement crisis to mount a sustained political challenge to the AAP government ahead of the upcoming legislative session. This comes amid a broader national conversation about the state of agricultural infrastructure and the rollout of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement mechanism.
Point of View
A line the Congress has been road-testing nationally. What gets less attention is the structural question: Punjab's mandi system, once the envy of agrarian states, has been under quiet institutional stress for years, predating both AAP and the farm laws controversy. Blaming the weather is the easiest deflection available, but the harder accountability is on advance infrastructure planning — covered storage, real-time procurement tracking, and direct payment timelines — none of which require exceptional governance, only routine preparedness.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems are Punjab farmers facing at paddy procurement centres?
Punjab farmers are reportedly finding their paddy crops damaged at mandis due to rainfall and a lack of protective infrastructure. Additionally, payments for procured crops are allegedly not being made on time, according to Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Pargat Singh.
What did Congress leader Pargat Singh say about Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann?
Singh accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of failing to deliver on repeated promises to procure every grain of farmers' produce. He alleged the AAP government has not ensured adequate arrangements for crop protection, timely lifting, storage, or payments at mandis.
Why does Congress blame the Central government for Punjab's mandi problems?
Singh alleged that Central government policies have weakened Punjab's mandi procurement system over time. He further claimed that AAP, which he described as the 'BJP's B-team,' is continuing that trend rather than reversing it.
What action has Congress called for in response to the mandi crisis?
Pargat Singh has urged Congress district presidents, leaders, and workers across Punjab to visit mandis in their areas, assess crop and procurement conditions, listen to farmers' grievances, and raise issues directly with local administration officials.
Can the Punjab government blame rainfall for the mandi failures?
Congress has rejected weather as a sufficient explanation. Pargat Singh stated that the state government cannot evade administrative responsibility by blaming rainfall alone, arguing that advance planning for covered storage, timely lifting, and payments was entirely within the government's control.
