Unseasonal rain, hail damaged crops, but govt not concerned: Surjewala

Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday said recent unseasonal rains and hailstorm have caused extensive damage to the crops at many places in Haryana but the government is not concerned about the plight of farmers.

Surjewala said "the crops of farmers have suffered 40-50 per cent damage, but Khattar government is not concerned about their plight.''

Speaking to reporters in Kaithal, from where Surjewala is a former legislator, he said during the past one-month, the district alone has received rainfall which is 700 per cent in excess than normal limit.

Likewise, there are many other districts which have received 650-700 per cent rainfall in excess whereas some southern parts of Haryana have got rainfall 800 per cent in excess than the normal during past one month, he said.

 

"While farmers have suffered extensive damage to crops, the government is not concerned about their plight. The chief minister is busy taking camel rides," he said.

Khattar had on Saturday posted his pictures where he was seen enjoying a camel ride at a livestock exhibition in Karnal.

In the pictures posted on his Twitter handle, Khattar was seen waving to a group of people who were clicking his pictures.

Surjewala demanded that the government give a compensation of Rs 30,000 per acre to the farmers for their damaged crops.

Rain accompanied by strong winds have flattened wheat crop in many areas of Yamunanagar, Karnal, Kaithal, Kurukshetra and some other districts in Haryana.

The farmers have demanded that government give them adequate compensation for the damage.

Speaking at a public rally in Israna in Panipat on Friday, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautalasaid the concerned Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to carry out special 'girdawari' to assess the loss.

Meanwhile, in a statement here, Surjewala alleged that there have been nine paper leaks of class 10 and 12 examinations conducted by the Haryana School Education Board in the last 12 days.

Accusing the state government of ruining the future of students and youths by not taking any action over frequent paper leaks, he demanded a comprehensive investigation to fix the "protectors and patrons of the 'Nakal Mafia' (cheating mafia)".

"Under whose patronage is this 'Nakal Mafia' flourishing?" the Congress leader asked.