Pesticide mafia and Badal government responsible for the massive damage of cotton crop in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress today hold the pesticide mafia and the Badal government responsible for the massive damage of cotton crop in Malwa, due to whitefly attack. Badal Government had blamed farmers for the damage on the plea that they have not sticked to guidelines issued by Agriculture department. Sukhpal Singh Khaira, former MLA and PPCC Spokesman today in a statement said that after the utter failure of wheat, sugarcane and potato crops, it’s the turn of cotton considered to be the most precious crop of Malwa due to a severe attack by the whitefly.
As per reports, more than 50 percent of the standing crop of cotton in the Malwa region has been severely affected by the whitefly attack,forcing the farmers to plough the crop that was almost ready for harvest. Khaira said that the main reason for the failure of cotton crop due to whitefly attack,is the deep nexus between the pesticide mafia and the Badal government. It has come to light, that recently a group of pesticide mafia was nabbed by the Bajakhana police near Baghapurana police checkpoint with Rs. 40 lac cash, which was supposed to be paid as bribe to the Agriculture Minister Jathedar Tota Singh. The said Rs. 40 lac was meant to be paid to Jathedar Tota Singh to allow purchase of spurious pesticide for spraying the cotton crop to curb the menace of whitefly. The said pesticide mafia was allowed to scott free after the political bosses exhorted pressure on the local police. Since the spurious pesticide prescribed by the government failed to control the whitefly attack, more than 50 percent of standing cotton crop has been destroyed. He further said that this unholy nexus between the pesticide mafia and Akali bigwigs is the main reason for destruction of cotton crop in Malwa, leaving the farmers in complete lurch. The said failure of more than 50 percent cotton crop will further add to the woes of already indebted farmersand will lead to more suicides in Punjab. He said that Badal was allowing his Ministers to compromise the interests of farmers for petty financial gains. He should not forget that it is due to the farmers of Punjab, that he is Chief Minister for the 5th time. Although Badal and the Akali Dal claim to be the sole champions of the farmer rights, but they have been betraying the cause of the farming fraternity ever since the Modi government has come into power. If the Badal government cannot rescue the farmers from the current agrarian crises, how can it think of implementing the Swaminathan Committee recommendations for higher MSP,
as per their election manifesto promise?
Khaira said that keeping in view such large scale destruction of cotton crop due to spurious usage of pesticides, Congress demands a judicial inquiry to unearth the unholy nexus between pesticide mafia and Akali politicians. Congress also demands a special “Girdawri” of the entire cotton crop destroyed by whitefly attack and a minimum compensation of Rs. 20,000 per acre, so that the farmers are able to recover the cost of input incurred by them to grow the said crop.