Haryana Farmers Stage Protest, Police Use Water Cannons on Delhi-Chandigarh Highway

Haryana farmers near Shahabad took to the streets on Tuesday afternoon, blocking the Delhi-Chandigarh national highway in protest against the government's failure to provide a minimum support price (MSP) for sunflower seeds. The demonstration was organized in response to a call by BKU (Charuni) chief, Gurnam Singh Charuni.

The protesting farmers alleged that the government was not procuring sunflower seeds at the mandated MSP, forcing them to sell their produce to private buyers at significantly lower prices. While the MSP for sunflower seeds stands at Rs 6,400 per quintal, farmers claimed they were compelled to sell at around Rs 4,000 per quintal. Despite giving the government a deadline of Monday to address their concerns, the farmers' demands remained unmet.

In an attempt to address the situation, the Haryana government introduced the Bhavantar scheme, fixing a purchase price of Rs 4,800 per quintal for sunflowers. However, farmers highlighted that the scheme falls short of the MSP, with an additional Rs 1,000 provided to farmers under the Bhavantar Yojana, bringing the total compensation to Rs 5,800 per quintal.

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The protest led to disruptions on the National Highway, inconveniencing numerous commuters. As tensions escalated, law enforcement authorities employed water cannons and resorted to baton-charging to disperse the protesters. The Kurukshetra Superintendent of Police assured that an investigation would be conducted against those who resorted to violence.

The Congress party criticized the Haryana government, led by Manohar Lal Khattar, for the police action taken against the protesting farmers. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala took to Twitter, accusing the Khattar government of displaying animosity towards farmers.

Surjewala described the lathi-charge on farmers in Kurukshetra as the final blow to the BJP-JJP government, emphasizing that while the MSP for sunflower crops remains at Rs 6,400, farmers are compelled to sell their produce for Rs 4,000-4,500. Surjewala called for an end to this oppression and condemned the alleged hostility of the Khattar government towards farmers.

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The authorities have now restored peace to the area, although some individuals were detained during the protests. The police have committed to taking appropriate action against those who violated the law.

The farmers' protest near Shahabad serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by agricultural communities in securing fair prices for their produce. The situation highlights the importance of addressing farmers' concerns and implementing policies that ensure their economic well-being while safeguarding the nation's agricultural sector.

source-ANI

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