DW BUREAU / chandigarh An MLA of the ruling BJP in Haryana on Wednesday staged a symbolic dharna in front of the state assembly building here, alleging that because of a senior bureaucrat, farmers were facing problems in mandis during crop procurement. Goel, a second-term BJP MLA from Ambala City, targeted Additional Chief Secretary (Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs) P K Das during the dharna. Das, however, said that he will not comment on what a political leader was saying, but assured that paddy procurement was going on smoothly. The BJP leader alleged mismanagement at grain markets (mandis) and claimed that farmers were facing a lot of problems because of this. "Farmers, labourers and traders are being harassed due to the delay in paddy procurement," Goel told reporters at the dharna site. He claimed that farmers are facing problems in getting registration number on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal and even after waiting for long hours, they do not get permission to sell paddy crop. "For six months farmers toil hard to grow the crop, but today they are facing hurdles in selling it. And one official is responsible for this," Goel alleged. "I am representing 5 lakh people. I have not come to Chandigarh for a picnic, I am not against the government," the BJP MLA said during the dharna which lasted for about an hour. Goel said that Chief Minister M L Khattar always gave him love and respect. "A lot of development was undertaken in my assembly constituency. But the people, including farmers, labourers, traders and other sections, who gave me blessings and because of whom I got re-elected, if they are facing problems, then I cannot stay silent," he said. Das, however, told reporters that paddy procurement was going on smoothly in mandis. "For this year's paddy procurement and paddy milling policy, decisions were taken at appropriate level in the government. Procurement is going on smoothly and under a system," he said. Das said that as far as sitting on a dharna by a MLA is concerned, this is his prerogative. Being a government official, "I will not like to comment on that", he said. Asked if bureaucracy was calling the shots, the BJP MLA said "some officials have a big ego and think their ego is above the policies of the government". "Today, I am staging this symbolic protest against that official," Goel said. "He should admit his mistake. I have no personal grudge against the official, he should set right the arrangements in the mandis," BJP leader said. (editor@dailyworld.in)