Sales dip as farmers call for ‘black Diwali’

Bathinda, November 13

The call given by the agitating farmers to celebrate “black Diwali” has hit the business community hard.

Sanjiv Kumar, a wholesale dealer, said farmers borrowed money from arhtiyas in advance or took money after selling their crops, which they spent on purchases. However, this time due to protests, farmers had vanished from the market. “The arhtiyas are also not ready to give money to farmers, whose crops have not been sold yet, lest it should turn into bad debt. Even the money-lenders seem to have disappeared from the market scene,” he said.

Amit Kapoor, president, Beopar Mandal, Punjab, said, “We expected good business during the festive season, but the situation is bad. The orders have come down as people are not making any major purchases and spending on essential household items only.”

“First recession and now the farmers’ agitation has dashed the hopes of revival,” he said. — TNS