Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Sukhbir Badal urges Punjabis to unite in support of farmers affected by unseasonal rains
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, April 8, 2026 – Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today appealed to Punjabis to stand together to support farmers whose wheat crops have been damaged across 1.25 lakh acres due to unseasonal rain and hail storms, just as they had assisted farmers affected by last year’s devastating floods.
Speaking at a party meeting with halka in-charges and district presidents, Badal announced that SAD would begin distributing wheat, green fodder, and dry fodder to the affected farmers after April 20. “We are setting up nodal points for collecting relief material, which will then be distributed in the affected villages,” he said.
Badal also highlighted that the party was arranging field balers to create bales in farmers’ fields free of cost, allowing them to earn additional income. He added that assistance would also be extended to small vegetable farmers whose crops were damaged in the recent hail storms.
The SAD president criticized Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for failing to fulfill their promises to farmers. “Before coming to power in 2022, the AAP had promised an advance compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre for crop damage even before any survey,” he said, noting that the government failed to release compensation for crops damaged over 4 lakh acres during last year’s floods. “Now, the government has again refused to help farmers in distress.”
Badal also accused AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal of misleading voters during the Gujarat elections by claiming that Punjab farmers had received Rs 50,000 per acre as flood compensation.
Addressing media queries, Badal hailed the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s order directing the AAP government to clear pending Dearness Allowance (DA) dues to government employees and pensioners by June 30, 2026. He described the ruling as a “victory for employees,” noting that arrears amount to Rs 12,000–15,000 crore.
He further criticized both the previous Congress and current AAP governments for discriminating against government employees, citing frozen recruitment and questioning the legality of extending DA benefits. In contrast, Badal noted that the previous SAD government under S. Parkash Singh Badal had implemented Pay Commissions and cleared DA dues promptly.
The meeting was attended by all district presidents and halka in-charges, with detailed plans laid out to ensure swift assistance reaches distressed farmers.