Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee President Warns of Severe Farmer Crisis Following Unseasonal Hailstorm
Rao Narendra Singh, the president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), issued a stark warning on Wednesday regarding the devastating impact of recent unseasonal hailstorms across several districts in Haryana. He emphasized that the damage caused by the hailstorm was extremely severe and cautioned that without timely and concrete intervention, the plight of farmers could deteriorate further into a more pitiable state.
Extensive Crop Damage and Economic Fallout
The unseasonal hailstorm has wreaked havoc on the hard work of farmers, with key rabi crops such as wheat and mustard suffering heavy losses. Standing crops in fields have been destroyed, leading to an acute economic crisis for thousands of farming families. Rao Narendra Singh highlighted that this natural disaster has compounded the existing struggles faced by farmers, including inflation, rising input costs, and market uncertainties.
He stated, "Farmers were already grappling with financial pressures, and this hailstorm has only worsened their situation, turning months of labor into ruin within minutes." This destruction poses a serious challenge for farmers in supporting their families and repaying agricultural loans, threatening their livelihoods.
Accusations of Government Indifference and Demands for Action
Rao Narendra Singh accused the state government of adopting an indifferent attitude towards the farmers' distress, failing to understand their pain. In response, he laid out a series of demands to address the crisis:
- Conduct a special girdawari (crop damage assessment) in all hailstorm-affected areas.
- Carry out a realistic and transparent evaluation of the crop losses.
- Provide appropriate, adequate, and timely compensation to the affected farmers.
- Announce a comprehensive relief package to financially support farmers for the next cropping season.
He emphasized, "Farmers are the backbone of our state and nation, feeding the country through their hard work. Yet, today, nature's wrath has destroyed their efforts, and the government's apathy is like rubbing salt into their wounds." The Congress party, he affirmed, stands firmly with the farmers and is prepared to fight at every level to secure their rights.
Call for Unity and Threat of Movement
Appealing to the government to rise above political differences, Rao Narendra Singh urged immediate steps in the interest of farmers. He warned that if prompt action is not taken, the Congress party will not hesitate to launch a movement alongside the farmers to demand justice and support. This call to action underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for collaborative efforts to mitigate the crisis.
The hailstorm and accompanying rains in multiple districts have not only damaged crops but also highlighted systemic issues in agricultural support systems, making this a critical moment for policy intervention.
