Sonipat: At a time when wheat harvesting is at its peak across Haryana, state cooperation minister Dr Arvind Sharma was seen in a rustic avatar on Sunday as he stepped into the fields in Bidhla village of Sonipat district and joined farmers in harvesting the crop. Accompanied by his wife Dr Rita Sharma, the minister participated in ‘lamani’ (manual wheat harvesting), offering a rare on-ground glimpse of political leadership engaging directly with farm work.Dr Sharma was returning to Gohana from Salarpur Majra village after attending programmes under the BJP’s ‘Gaon Chalo, Basti Chalo’ campaign when he decided to stop near Bidhla to assess the impact of recent storms and unseasonal rains on standing crops.His convoy halted near the Rajbaha canal at the fields owned by one Ajit. The minister interacted with Ajit’s wife Mamta and women labourers, who were engaged in harvesting wheat and enquired about crop conditions and challenges.During the interaction, Dr Sharma spontaneously picked up a sickle, tied a traditional ‘mandasa’ (cloth headgear) and entered the field along with his wife. The couple spent considerable time harvesting wheat and also bundled the crop into sheaves.Later, they shared a meal prepared by Mamta, expressing gratitude to the host family.Speaking in a video message, Dr Sharma recalled his roots in farming, stating that he worked in fields alongside his father, a retired school principal, during his childhood. “Whenever I get the opportunity, I reconnect with farming. Today brought back old memories. My wife also experienced ‘lamani’ for the first time and found it fulfilling,” he said.He added, “It’s about passion — love for the soil, love for the fields, love for Haryana. Once you step into the field, the connection is immediate.”The minister also highlighted the govt’s commitment towards farmers, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Nayab Singh Saini came from farming backgrounds and understood the concerns of the cultivators. He said wheat procurement had commenced across the state and the govt was ensuring a smooth process for farmers and commission agents.Dr Sharma reiterated that every grain of farmers’ produce would be procured at the minimum support price (MSP).Several local residents, including former Bidhla sarpanch Kartar Malik, were present on the occasion.
