Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition, Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said that both the produce and the producers—the farmers—are facing continuous distress in grain markets across the State as the online portal is non-functional, gate passes are not being generated, bidding is not taking place, and there is neither procurement, lifting of stocks, nor payment being made. 

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Mr. Hooda, who has been continuously touring grain markets across the State, visited the Sohna grain market on Monday (April 13, 2026). He interacted with farmers, Arhtiyas (commission agents), and labourers.

He has also issued directives to all Congress MLAs and senior leaders regarding this matter, and instructed them to visit all grain markets daily, summon officials to the site, and confront them with the ground realities, said a press statement issued by the Congress State unit.

“If the administration is found to be negligent in discharging its duties anywhere, MLAs should register their objections. If the situation warrants a sit-in protest or demonstration, they must undertake that as well. Haryana currently possesses a strong Opposition, and the Congress party is committed to fulfilling this responsibility with utmost diligence,” he said.

The Leader of the Opposition stated that he has visited several grain markets so far, including those in Sampla, Naraingarh, Sadhaura, Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Karnal. He noted that farmers are being entangled in unnecessary bureaucratic procedures everywhere, seemingly to avoid procuring their crops and to allow the government to evade its obligation to pay the Minimum Support Price (MSP).

At the Sohna grain market as well, farmers and Arhtiyas apprised Mr. Hooda of their grievances, said the press statement, adding that the Arhtiyas remarked that the level of mismanagement was so severe that even basic gunny bags were unavailable at the warehouses. The farmers conveyed to Mr. Hooda that they were facing immense hardship due to the lack of a smooth procurement process and the imposition of arbitrary new conditions. “Initially, the condition of portal registration was imposed; subsequently, followed by gate passes, biometric scans, tractor registration numbers, verification, and the requirement of a guarantor, and countless such conditions have been thrust upon the farmers,” he pointed out. 

“This is the reason why, despite the heavy influx of crops into the mandi (market), actual procurement remains negligible,” he added and summoned officials to the site, apprised them of the issues plaguing the mandi, and issued necessary directives.