Haryana farmers block Delhi-Chandigarh highway after mahapanchayat, demand MSP for sunflower seeds

Kurukshetra: Farmers on Monday blocked the Delhi-Chandigarh highway after holding a mahapanchayat demanding minimum support price for sunflower seeds in Kurukshetra district. “MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao Mahapanchayat” called by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) was organized at a grain market in Pipli near National Highway-44. After the mahapanchayat, the farmers gathered on the highway, blocking the road. Police was diverting the traffic from another route.

At the mahapanchayat, farmer leader Karam Singh Mathana said the local administration has assured a meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to discuss their demands. “But now they say that the Chief Minister has left Karnal”. “Because of this, the local committee that organized the mahapanchayat decided to block the National Highway-44 until our demands are met,” Mathana said.

On 6 June, farmers led by Gurnam Singh Charuni, chief of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni), blocked the National Highway-44 near Shahabad, demanding that the government buy sunflower seeds at the minimum support price. Police used water cannons and resorted to lathicharge to disperse the protesters.

Later, nine BKU (Charuni) leaders, including its president, were arrested on various charges including rioting and unlawful assembly. Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, who attended the mahapanchayat on Monday, said that the government should procure sunflower at MSP and release the farmer leaders arrested in Shahabad.

Addressing the mahapanchayat, Tiakit announced that the United Kisan Morcha would launch an all-India agitation if a law for MPS, “as promised by the central government”, was not brought. He alleged that the government announces MSP but fails to procure it at that rate. Tiakit condemned the police action against Churni and the farmers who blocked the National Highway-44 on June 6 and asked,

“What wrong has BKU (Charuni) leader done when he asked for MSP for sunflower crop.” The mahapanchayat was attended by Olympic medal-winning wrestler Bajrang Punia, who has been demanding action against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, besides Rakesh Tikait, leader of the Indian Farmers Union and leaders of various khaps.

Addressing the mahapanchayat, some farmer leaders criticized the government for its “anti-farmer” policies and the police action against their 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. On Saturday, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar released Rs 29.13 crore as interim compensation to 8,528 farmers for sunflower grown on 36,414 acres. The farmers are demanding that the state government buy sunflower at the minimum support price of Rs 6,400 per quintal.

Under the Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana – Price Difference Payment Scheme – the state government provides Rs 1,000 per quintal as interim support for sunflower crop sold below the MSP. Addressing the mahapanchayat, Bajrang Punia said that the wrestlers have postponed their agitation till June 15 and will announce their next course of action if strict action is not taken against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by that time.

The wrestlers called off their protest after the central government assured them that a charge sheet would be filed against Singh, the outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief, by June 15. Punia said that he is getting full support from various Khaps and other organizations in his struggle.