DW BUREAU / Sangrur

In a somber visit, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa met with the family of Jaswinder Singh, a distressed farmer who tragically took his own life after failing to sell his paddy crop. With debts totaling nearly Rs 5 lakh, Jaswinder was engulfed in financial despair and struggled for over a week before consuming poison. His son, Jagatvir, shared that his father collapsed at the scene and was rushed to Patiala Hospital, where he succumbed on the way. Villagers have since appealed to the Punjab government to provide urgent assistance to the bereaved family.

Bajwa expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and assured the family of his full support. Addressing the press, he lambasted the AAP-led Punjab government, accusing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of failing to ensure the timely procurement of paddy, which has pushed countless farmers into financial ruin during what should have been a season of joy. Bajwa remarked that Diwali has turned into "Diwaliya" (bankruptcy) for Punjab's farmers, robbed of joy and security as unsold harvests continue to accumulate.

Bajwa also recalled Mann's past rhetoric, where Mann demanded criminal charges against the agriculture minister if a farmer committed suicide due to policy failures. "Will CM Mann now hold his own minister accountable, or even himself, for this tragedy?" Bajwa questioned, underscoring the government's responsibility to relieve farmers' burdens.

Furthermore, Bajwa criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who, despite his tours in Punjab, has refrained from visiting the grieving family. He noted that Sangrur?AAP's stronghold?reflects the deteriorating situation of farmers under AAP governance. "If this is the condition in Sangrur, one can only imagine the suffering in other districts," Bajwa added, emphasizing the agricultural community's hardship due to government inaction.

Bajwa pointed out the escalating scarcity of DAP fertilizer, crucial for the upcoming wheat sowing season. The DAP shortage, compounded by delayed paddy procurement, has left Punjab's farmers on the brink of crisis. Bajwa urged the government to take immediate steps to address both the paddy procurement and DAP crises, calling for timely intervention and financial relief for affected families.
(editor@dailyworld.in)