CHANDIGARH, April 6 — Following a week of intense hailstorms and unseasonal rainfall, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has issued an SOS to the central government, citing total crop devastation in several districts. Warring affirmed that the Malwa region has been particularly hard hit, with standing wheat crops completely flattened by the elements.
The Punjab Congress leader expressed skepticism regarding the state government’s ability to manage the crisis, noting that many victims of last year’s floods are still awaiting their promised property and crop compensation. He declared that the official orders for a ‘girdawari’ to assess damages are often used to mislead the public. “What is to be surveyed when the crops over entire fields are lying flattened?” he asked, asserting that the visual evidence of the loss is already absolute.
In his communication to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Warring stated that the state’s current approach lacks the necessary urgency to support the rural economy. He maintained that interim relief should be the priority to sustain farmers while formal procedures are conducted. The PCC president affirmed his plans to travel to Delhi to secure a commitment for central aid, citing the “bad and disappointing” track record of the local administration in settling past claims.
BJP-led central ministry must intervene to fill the gap left by the state’s perceived inaction, the statement said.
Warring affirmed that the Congress party will continue to advocate for the farmers until tangible financial support reaches the affected families. He noted that the survival of the current harvest is critical for the state’s welfare and requires a response that transcends standard bureaucratic delays.
