The party will submit memoranda at district headquarters on October 14.

Chandigarh (October 12) , Mangat Singh Saidpur -The Punjab Government must immediately provide compensation after assessing the damage caused by recent rains to standing crops and paddy stocks lying in the grain markets (*mandis*). S. Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra, General Secretary and Chief Spokesperson of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit), made this demand during a press conference. Speaking to reporters, S. Chandumajra stated that the rain has not only exposed the Punjab Government's poor management but has also paved the way for another impending problem: the damage to the grain quality caused by the rainfall. This discolored grain is likely to become a source of conflict between farmers and rice sheller owners during the procurement process. Similarly, the issue of moisture content—which remains unaddressed—will become even more complicated as moisture levels in the paddy crop rise following the rain. Therefore, as a solution, the government should revise the permissible limits for quality and moisture content. S. Chandumajra stated that farmers, commission agents (*arhtiyas*), and rice sheller owners are vital links in Punjab's marketing infrastructure; if even one of these links weakens, the entire system will collapse. Farmers are facing a double blow from both nature and the government. To support the struggling rice sheller industry, the Punjab government should provide a milling bonus of ₹30, similar to the practice adopted by the Haryana government—a measure the Punjab government has failed to implement. Furthermore, Punjab is facing a critical storage crisis, yet the state government has made no effective effort to coordinate with the Centre to resolve this issue. S. Chandumajra stated that another devastating blow has been dealt to rice sheller owners; specifically, hybrid seed varieties contain 45% broken grains, and while the government previously allowed a 25% tolerance limit for broken grains, this has now been reduced to 10%. Previously, only 10% of Punjab's stock fell under this 10% broken-grain category, but now the entire stock (100%) is required to meet this standard. This means the entire produce will be procured based on the 10% broken-grain limit, a move tantamount to ruining the financial stability of sheller owners. Additionally, a deduction of ₹200 per quintal is being imposed on hybrid seed varieties. S. Chandumajra further noted that the paddy procurement limit was 190 lakh metric tonnes last year but has been reduced to 180 lakh metric tonnes this year, even though crop arrivals in the *mandis* (grain markets) are expected to exceed 200 lakh metric tonnes. S. Chandumajra alleged that the Punjab government has neither taken note of this reduced limit nor raised the issue with the Central government. A careful analysis of the entire sequence of events makes it evident that the Punjab government is not engaging in sincere dialogue with the Centre to strengthen the marketing infrastructure. The head of the Punjab government and his coterie are preparing a political arena in the state where all parties appear to be doing nothing but trading accusations against one another. Governments are targeting key components of the marketing infrastructure in an effort to dismantle it, and the Punjab government, by maintaining complete silence, is becoming complicit in this process. Concluding his statement, S. Chandumajra challenged the Punjab government: if this claim is false, let them specify where they have raised their voice—or what action they have taken so far—regarding the reduction in procurement limits, the cut in the allowance for broken grains, or the creation of storage facilities. He stated that regarding this entire matter, memoranda would be submitted to Deputy Commissioners at all district headquarters on Wednesday, October 14. Apart from S. Chandumajra, leaders such as Office Secretary Jagjit Singh Kohli, S. Ranbir Singh Punia, S. Davinder Singh Sodhi, S. Arvinder Singh Penta, S. Sarbjit Singh Kadimajra, S. Darshan Singh Kansala, and S. Surinder Singh Kadimajra were present at today's press conference.