Haryana farmers block Delhi-Chandigarh highway, seek MSP for sunflower seed - Watch video
1 min read 12 Jun 2023, 04:24 PM ISTFarmers block Delhi-Chandigarh highway after holding a mahapanchayat demanding minimum support price for sunflower seed. The police have diverted traffic from other routes.
PremiumFarmers launched a fresh protest on Monday blocking the Delhi-Chandigarh highway and demanding minimum support price for sunflower seeds. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) had called the "MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao mahapanchayat" earlier in the day at a grain market in Pipli. The farmers had begun their march towards the highway following the meeting. Police have been diverting traffic from other routes.
"We have only two demands, release the farmers who were detained and start purchasing sunflower seeds at MSP. We are ready to hold discussions with the government," farm leader Rakesh Tikait said.
The farmers demanded that the State government procure sunflower seeds at an MSP of ₹6,400 per quintal.
He however refuted assertions that the protesters were blocking the highway.
“We are not blocking the highway. It is not right, highways should not be blocked," he said.
Farmers and their supporters from Punjab and Haryana were seen coming out on streets in large numbers on their tractors after the mahapanchayat this morning. The meeting was attended by the leaders of various khaps, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, Olympic medal-winning wrestler Bajrang Punia.
Last week too, Haryana farmers had taken to the streets near Shahabad and blocked the Delhi-Chandigarh national highway to demand MSP for sunflower seeds. The protest call was given by BKU (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni. At the time, the police said that they had used water cannons to disperse the protesters and baton-charged them in a bid to control the situation.
(With inputs from agencies)