Chandigarh, Oct 22 (NationPress) Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday alleged that the state government is cheating farmers, claiming that the procurement of crops is virtually nonexistent, which is compelling farmers to sell their produce at prices lower than the minimum support price (MSP).

“What has happened to the BJP government’s Bhavantar Yojana and the procurement agencies? The continuous deception is evident as farmers are not receiving the MSP for essential crops like paddy, millet, green gram, and cotton,” the Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly remarked.

He pointed out that crops are being offered at rock-bottom prices, while the government and its agencies are absent. “This is a clear betrayal of farmers. Long queues are forming for fertilizers, and farmers are struggling from sowing to selling their crops. The government seems indifferent to their plight,” the Congress leader emphasized.

Hooda noted that millet is trading between Rs 1,800 and Rs 1,850 per quintal in the Narnaul market, yet no purchases have been made by the government.

“In the mandis of Nuh district, not a single grain of millet was bought. Farmers received less than Rs 1,700-1,800 per quintal. The situation in Hisar mandis is even dire. Despite the MSP being Rs 2,775 per quintal, farmers are facing significant losses,” he highlighted.

The Congress leader mentioned that 40,000 tons of moong arrived in Hisar markets, but government agencies did not buy any. Additionally, cotton and millet are being sold at minimal prices in Bhiwani. “Cotton prices range from Rs 6,500 to Rs 7,200 per quintal, while the MSP stands at Rs 8,100 per quintal. Due to the absence of government procurement, only millers are buying, leading to total losses for farmers,” he explained.

Hooda also questioned the claims made by government agencies regarding crop standards, which are supposedly the reason for lack of procurement. “What standards are they referring to? If the standards were adequate at the time of seed sale, how did they become faulty at harvest?” he queried.

“Did farmers grow the millet crop at home? If the seeds were defective, why should farmers bear the losses? Was any action taken against those who sold the faulty seeds? Were these defective seeds sold all over Haryana? Where were the BJP government and its representatives during seed sales? These are simply excuses to evade purchasing crops under the government’s pretense,” the two-time Chief Minister concluded.