Kurukshetra: An agreement has been reached between the protesting farmers and the farmers regarding the demand for the minimum support price for sunflower seeds. Along with this, farmers have also announced to removal chakka jam on National Highway 44 near Pipli in Kurukshetra.
Giving this information, Kurukshetra DC Shantanu Sharma said, ‘The Haryana government has always stood in support of the farmers. The CM has agreed to increase the MSP for the sunflower crop. On the other hand, farmer leader Karam Singh Mathana and other farmer leaders said in a joint press conference here, ‘We have struggled for a week and today the government has accepted our demand with the cooperation of all of you.
‘Neither this is anyone’s victory nor anyone’s defeat’
Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, who was present in this press conference, said, ‘Neither did we bow down to the government, nor did the farmer bow down. This agreement is our right. Neither this is anyone’s victory nor anyone’s defeat.
Explain that the protesting farmers had blocked the National Highway (NH-44) near Pipli since Monday afternoon after organizing a Mahapanchayat on the issue of MSP. This highway connects Delhi to Chandigarh and some other routes. As the standoff continued, some farmers put up tents on the highway to save themselves from the scorching heat.
Earlier, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait had said on Monday that the issue of MSP for sunflower seeds is affecting not only Haryana farmers but the entire farming community ‘as we are demanding an MSP law for all crops’, Which was promised by the central government when we had withdrawn the farmer’s movement against the now repealed agricultural laws.
Demand for the release of 9 farmer leaders
Apart from the MSP for sunflower seeds, these protesting farmers are also demanding the release of 9 farmer leaders, who were arrested during the recent protest in Shahabad. Kurukshetra Superintendent of Police SS Bhoria told that the district administration is trying to persuade the farmers to end the blockade and they are hopeful that a solution will be found. He said that the police have registered a new case against the protesters for blocking the national highway.
He said that prohibitory orders were imposed under Section 144 within two kilometers of Anaj Mandi Pipli, where farmers held their Mahapanchayat and violated the prohibitory orders.
Had also done chakka jam on 6th June
Farmers, led by Gurnam Singh Chadhuni, chief of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Chadhuni), blocked the national highway near Shahabad on June 6, demanding that the government buy sunflower seeds at the minimum support price (MSP). The police used lathi-charge along with using water cannons to disperse the protesters. Later, nine of its leaders including the president of Bhakiyu (Chadhuni) were arrested on various charges including rioting and unlawful assembly.
It is noteworthy that Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday released Rs 29.13 crore as interim compensation to 8,528 farmers for sunflower crops grown 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 Yojana, the state government is giving Rs 1,000 per quintal as interim support for the sunflower crop sold below the MSP.
