Protesting Farmers In Haryana's Kurukshetra Block Highway To Delhi
Farm leaders from Haryana, Punjab, UP and other neighboring states had gathered at the Pipli grain market for the 'MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao' mahapanchayat to press their demand.
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New Delhi: Protesting against the lack of minimum support price (MSP) for procurement of sunflower crops, Haryana farmers today blocked the national highway leading to Delhi as they are not happy with the relief measures announced by the chief minister. They decided to block traffic on Highway 44 during a mahapanchayat held at Pipli village in Kurukshetra district. Traffic on the Delhi-Chandigarh route was diverted to avoid congestion. Farmer leaders from Haryana, Punjab, UP and other neighboring states gathered at Pipli grain market in the "MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao" mahapanchayats to express their demand.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday digitally released ₹ 29.13 billion as interim bharpai (emergency relief) to 8,528 farmers under Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana (BBY) differential payment scheme for sunflower grown on 36,414 acres. Earlier this year, the state government announced inclusion of the sunflower crop under the BBY scheme, through which it pays fixed compensation to farmers for produce sold below the MSP. The state government provides a temporary subsidy of ₹1,000/₹5,000 under the scheme for sunflower crop sold below MSP.
Farmers are demanding that the state government procure sunflower at an MSP of ₹ 6,400/5.
Olympic wrestler Bajrang Punia, who recently received support from farmers in the state amid ongoing protests against All India Wrestling Federation chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment, attended the mahapanchayat along with farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, who presided over a huge a great struggle a year . - the long-term agitation of farmers against the now repealed controversial agricultural laws.
Farmers, led by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni, blocked a national highway near Shahabad for over six hours on June 6, demanding the government to provide sunflower seeds at minimum support price (MSP). The police used water cannons and batons to disperse the protesters.
Nine BKU (Charuni) leaders, including its president, were later arrested on various charges including rioting and illegal assembly.
Addressing the mahapanchayat, some farm leaders today criticized the government for its "anti-farmer" policy and police action against their leaders. They demanded that the government provide sunflower seeds from the MSP and that the protestors arrested in Shahabad be released recently.
Mr Khattar on Saturday hit out at some farmers' unions for alleged "politics" and urged farmers not to fall prey to those trying to cheat them. Mr. Khattar said on Saturday that while the state was getting lakhs from the MSP, it was later found that farmers from other states were also selling their crops in the state mandis.
"Now, a similar opportunity is emerging for sunflower procurement. So, as a precautionary measure, we have announced a temporary 'bharpai' as the market rate continues to fluctuate," Khattar said.
