The farmers blocked the Chandigarh-Delhi National Highway by erecting tractors and sat on a dharna on the service road. At the same time, langar was also started on the highway itself.
New Delhi: Farmers blocked the highway at Pipli in the Kurukshetra district of Haryana on Monday demanding minimum support price (MSP) for sunflower seeds and other demands. The farmers blocked the Chandigarh-Delhi National Highway by erecting tractors and sat on a dharna on the service road.
At the same time, langar was also started on the highway itself. Farmers say that the jam will continue till our demands are not met. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait has given his two demands. He said that the detained farmers should be released and start buying sunflower seeds at MSP.
Tikait says that we will sit till the government does not accept our demands. The local committee is talking to the government, let's see what is the decision. We are with the local committee, we will have to accept whatever decision they take. Tikait said that everyone asks that you have blocked the highway, people are getting upset but do not see that the farmers are not getting the price for their crops.
Large number of farmers have gathered today to participate in the Mahapanchayat organized at Pipli. Apart from Rakesh Tikait and leaders of various khaps, Olympic medalist wrestler Bajrang Punia, who has been demanding action against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, was also present at the mahapanchayat.
The "MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao Mahapanchayat" called by the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Chadhuni) was held at a grain market near National Highway 44 in Pipli. The highway was blocked a few days ago by farmers demanding that the government buy sunflower seeds at MSP.
Farmers, led by Gurnam Singh Chadhuni, chief of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Chadhuni), blocked the national highway near Shahabad for over six hours on June 6, demanding that the government buy sunflower seeds at MSP. Police used water cannon and lathi-charged to disperse the protesters.
Later, nine of its leaders, including the BKU (Chadhuni) president, were arrested on various charges including rioting and unlawful assembly. Addressing the maha panchayat, some farmer leaders criticized the government for its "anti-farmer" policies and police action against farmer leaders. They demanded that the government buy sunflower seeds at MSP and the protesters who were recently arrested in Shahabad be released. Adequate police arrangements have been made to prevent any untoward incident.
BKU leaders held a meeting with senior police officers on Sunday night for the smooth conduct of the mahapanchayat. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday released Rs 29.13 crore as interim compensation to 8,528 farmers for sunflower growing on 36,414 acres. The farmers are demanding that the state government buy sunflowers at the minimum support price of Rs 6,400 per quintal. Under the Bhavantar Bharpayee scheme, the state government is giving Rs 1,000 per quintal as interim support for sunflower crops sold below the MSP.