On September 24, Congress general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala criticised the Haryana government led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini over its handling of paddy procurement and farmer welfare.
Surjewala highlighted the ban on combine harvester operations between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m., leaving farmers with only eight hours of harvesting time. He argued that the restriction forces farmers to cover more fields in less time, driving up rental costs and ultimately burdening the farmer.
He pointed out that farmers staged a protest on September 22 in Shahabad, Kurukshetra, demanding an early start to government paddy procurement. Surjewala warned that until procurement begins, farmers risk selling below the minimum support price. He called for clear timelines for procurement and adequate staff at mandis.
Surjewala also criticized the state’s stubble‑management policy, accusing the government of imposing fines and FIRs while simultaneously reducing the time available for farmers to clear fields. He urged the government to treat farmers as producers rather than suspects and to provide timely MSP, mandi access, and procurement facilities.
