Congress and Akali-BJP governments responsible for delay in implementing the Cattle Feed Act 2018: Kuldeep Dhaliwal

Amritsar/Chandigarh, December 3, 2025: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Chief Spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal held the previous Congress and Akali-BJP governments responsible for the nearly seven-year delay in implementing the Punjab Regulation of Cattle Feed, Concentrates and Mineral Mixture Act, 2018.
 
Addressing the media during a press conference on Wednesday, Dhaliwal alleged that the deliberate negligence and collusion of the previous governments caused immense harm to the interests of farmers and livestock owners, due to which they remained victims of exploitation by the substandard cattle feed mafia for a long time.
 
Dhaliwal said that during its tenure, the Congress blatantly flouted legal procedures. Ignoring Article 304(b) of the Constitution, the government hastily introduced this important Bill in the Legislative Assembly without obtaining prior approval from the Hon’ble President. This shows how irresponsible the government was, or that it intentionally wanted to trap this Act in legal complications.
 
He said that this Act was meant to regulate the quality of cattle feed, an industry with an annual business of nearly ₹16,000 crore. The objective of the Act was to improve the health of over 65 lakh cattle in Punjab and ensure higher productivity for farmers, thereby increasing their income. But the collusion of previous governments gave free rein to 1500–2000 unregistered feed manufacturers to continue their exploitation.
 
Dhaliwal said that keeping this Act in cold storage for seven years proves that earlier governments were not concerned with the welfare of farmers and livestock owners, but were instead protecting the interests of the adulterated feed manufacturing mafia.
 
Dhaliwal said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Punjab government resolved this legal complication on priority immediately after assuming office. We took swift action and obtained the post-facto approval of the President on 18.11.2025, after which this law can now be implemented with full strictness.
 
Issuing a stern warning to adulterators, Dhaliwal said that any manufacturer or dealer found selling adulterated or substandard cattle feed will face stringent legal action. Any person violating this Act will be punished with three years of imprisonment, and their registration will be cancelled immediately. The AAP government will not spare any mafia that exploits the farmers of Punjab.