Punjab Appeals to Centre Amid Flood Crisis, Commemorates Guru Tegh Bahadur's Legacy

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann urged the Centre to relax crop procurement rules due to flood-inflicted damage to paddy fields, as he assessed procurement processes in a local market. Citing moisture and grain discolouration, Mann pressed for flexibility in uniform specifications.

Despite recent devastation, Punjab aims to contribute 170 lakh metric tonnes of paddy to the national reserve. As of Thursday, 63.49 lakh metric tonnes reached 'mandis,' with 61.01 lakh metric tonnes already purchased. Mann revealed that 91.80% of grains are lifted within the targeted 72-hour period, with payments totaling Rs 13,073.07 crore distributed to farmers.

Mann criticized the Centre for withholding Rs 1,600 crore in flood relief, announced by the prime minister. Separately, Punjab plans to honor Guru Tegh Bahadur's 350th martyrdom anniversary with events statewide, focusing on his teachings of secularism and sacrifice, especially in Anandpur Sahib.