BJP leaders submit memorandum to Punjab CM via DC; Demand compensation for fire-affected farmers
BJP seeks immediate relief for fire-hit farmers, skips girdawari requirement
Ferozepur, April 21, 2025: In the wake of recent fire incidents in the Guru Har Sahai constituency that devastated thousands of acres of standing wheat crops, stubble (naad), and agricultural machinery, BJP leaders submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Punjab through Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma,
Addressing the media, BJP National Executive Member Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, former MLAs Fateh Jang Singh Bajwa and Keval Singh Dhillon, and former Punjab Information Commissioner Anumeet Singh Heera Sodhi expressed serious concern over the situation. They said the fire destroyed crops in several villages including Kohar Singh Wala, Dila Ram, Mishri Wala, Jhawnwala, Kutabgarh Bhata, Basti Saru Singh Wali, Leppo, and many others. Despite the scale of the damage, no administrative official had visited the affected sites, which they described as a clear dereliction of duty.
The leaders strongly criticized the state government and local administration, alleging they were both in a "Kumbhkarni sleep," ignoring the plight of the distressed farmers. They pointed out that even the compensation for crop loss due to unseasonal rains in 2021 has not yet been disbursed, despite proper assessment having been done.
"We have come today to raise the voice of the suffering farmers who are in deep distress," said the BJP leaders. They demanded that the government immediately release compensation of ₹50,000 per acre to the affected farmers without waiting for official damage assessments (girdawari). They reminded Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann of his earlier statement that compensation would be provided for any loss, even for the death of a chicken, and urged him to act accordingly.
The memorandum further included several key demands - ₹50,000 per acre compensation to farmers for crop loss, ₹15,000 for loss of stubble (naad), Provision of at least one year of ration to affected farmers’ families, Deployment of fire brigade services at multiple locations for quick response, Creation of 15–20 village clusters with appointed nodal officers, Nodal officers' contact information to be shared with Panchayat Secretaries and village leaders to enable prompt action during emergencies.
Among the prominent BJP members present on the occasion were Manjeet Singh Rai, Anumeet Singh Heera Sodhi, Davinder Singh Jang, Vicky Sidhu, District President Shamsher Singh Kakad, Advocate Surinder Pal Singh Sidhu, Jasmail Singh Laddi Gehri, Amarjit Singh Gharu, and Jimmy Sandhu, along with a large number of BJP workers.