Former CM Hooda Tours Grain Markets; demands Compensation for Damage Caused by Unseasonal Rains and a Bonus on MSP

Karnal, April 10, 2026: Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda visited the Pipli grain market as a part of his ongoing tour of grain markets across the state. He said the government is harassing farmers of the state by imposing arbitrary and unnecessary Conditions aimed at forcing them away from selling their produce in markets.

He interacted with farmers, commission agents (Arhtiyas), and laborers, listening to their grievances. Farmers informed Hooda that they are facing immense difficulties due to the lack of smooth procurement operations and the imposition of various new conditions. They noted that, instead of procuring wheat and mustard crops, the government is imposing one bizarre condition after another upon the farmers.

Addressing a press conference, Hooda said he began his tour of the grain markets in Sampla, followed by visits to Narayangarh, Sadhaura, Barara, and the Ambala market. Everywhere he went, he heard the same complaint: the BJP government first imposed a mandatory registration requirement on a portal, followed by conditions regarding gate passes, biometric verification, tractor numbers, verification checks, and guarantors—imposing countless such conditions one after another.

“In essence, farmers, who sustain the nation through their hard work, are being treated like criminals in the grain markets. It is as if they have arrived carrying illicit goods rather than their harvested crops,” he said.

“The government appears to be making a concerted effort to keep farmers entangled in superfluous bureaucratic procedures simply to avoid having to procure their crops. This explains why, despite the heavy influx of crops into the markets, actual procurement is not taking place, even though the government had claimed that procurement would commence on the 1st of the month,” he pointed out.

“Even today, farmers are still waiting for their turn. When procurement does occur, the lifting (transportation) of the grain does not follow; and when the lifting takes place, the payment is not released. Farmers have even reported that they have yet to receive payments for their paddy crops from the previous season,” he said.

Citing the names of half a dozen villages in Kurukshetra,and karnal Bhupinder Singh Hooda remarked that the region has suffered extensive damage due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms. This situation prevails across the entire state of Haryana, including Kurukshetra and Karnal. “The government must immediately conduct a special Girdawari (crop inspection) and provide compensation to the farmers. Furthermore, to make up for these losses, the state government should offer a bonus over and above the MSP, much like the bonus that was provided during the Congress government,” he said.

Hooda said that the government committed a scam during the paddy procurement in the previous season, followed by another in potato procurement; now, similar conspiracies appear to be unfolding in the procurement of wheat and mustard as well. “The BJP government seems determined not to let a single opportunity to fleece the farmers slip through its fingers,” he added.