For the second time in a week, protesting farmers blocked the Delhi-Chandigarh National Highway-44 (NH-44) near Pipli in Kurukshetra. Where on Monday, Kisan Mahapanchayat (MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao Mahapanchayat) was being organized to pressurize the Haryana government regarding their demands. The Haryana government was being pressurized to ensure procurement of sunflower crop at the minimum support price (MSP) and their demands, including the release of arrested BKU leaders including Gurnam Singh Chaduni. Passengers on the highway had to face a lot of trouble due to the sudden jam on the highway. Heavy police force was deployed on the highway and traffic was diverted through nearby villages to bypass the protest site.
Wrestler Bajrang Punia also included in Mahapanchayat
Wrestler Bajrang Punia and farmer leader Rakesh Tikait also participated in the mahapanchayat held in Kurukshetra. Earlier, farmers’ organizations had lent their support to the wrestlers’ protest demanding action against WFI president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment.
Otherwise there will be demonstrations across the country
Rakesh Tikait said, the government should release the farmer leaders arrested for blocking the National Highway on June 6 and ensure the purchase of sunflower seeds at MSP. Otherwise there will be demonstrations across the country. On Sunday, the Haryana Police issued notices to several farmer leaders asking them not to be a part of Monday’s Kisan Mahapanchayat. On Sunday also, a Kisan Mahapanchayat was organized by the agriculture bodies on the KMP Expressway in Rohtak’s Mandothi and it was decided that if Brij Bhushan Singh was not arrested by then, the farmers would hit the streets across Haryana on Wednesday (June 14). And will block the highway.
State police used force
Angered by the state government’s decision not to buy sunflower seeds at MSP, farmers blocked NH-44 on June 6. Ordered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to clear the National Highway, the state police used force and baton-charged the protesters, even using water cannons to disperse the agitated crowd. After this, Bharat Kisan Union (BKU) leader Chaduni and other farmers were arrested.
Rs 1,000 per quintal announced
On May 31, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar deposited Rs 181 crore in the bank accounts of 67,758 farmers as compensation for losses due to unseasonal rains in March-April, and on June 9, Khattar also announced Rs 1,000 per quintal It was As interim support under the Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana (Price Difference Payment Scheme) for sunflower crop sold below MSP – both these measures of the state government failed to pacify the protesting farmers.
Indian National Congress extended support to the protesting farmers
The opposition Indian National Congress has extended its support to the protesting farmers. The BJP government has once again shown its anti-farmer face. This government has changed the famous slogan of Lal Bahadur Shastri, Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan in every village of the country. Now the slogan of this government is ‘Mare Kisan, Pite Kisan, Jai Dhanwan’. The government has descended into dictatorship and incidents of lathicharge on farmers have become regular in Haryana.
Appeal to the farmers to be patient and wait for the elections
Congress Rajya Sabha member Deepender Hooda said while addressing media persons in New Delhi. Hooda also appealed to the farmers to have patience and wait for the 2024 elections. Hooda also demanded that if this government does not give legal guarantee of MSP, then there will be a change in 2024 and after Congress comes to power, we will fulfill the demand of legal guarantee of MSP. The people who were injured in the Kurukshetra lathicharge on 6th June should also be given financial assistance by the government.
Sunflower MSP fixed at Rs 6,400 per quintal
The protesting farmers reiterated that the government has fixed the MSP of sunflower at Rs 6,400 per quintal, but private players are buying them for only Rs 3,500-3,800. Farmers said that even after the government’s interim relief of Rs 1,000 per quintal, the total cost does not match the MSP and is much below the MSP. Another Congress leader from Haryana and Rajya Sabha member from Rajasthan Randeep Singh Surjewala also said that there is neither MSP law nor the farmer is getting MSP for his crop and when the farmer raises his voice, he only gets police lathis. .