Haryana highway blockade ends as farmers relent after assurance on paddy procurement

Hours after the Punjab and Haryana High Court in a late-night hearing ordered the Haryana government to ensure that NH-44 was freed of all blockades, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni announced on Saturday morning that the farmers were removing the blockades on the Delhi-Ambala national highway near Shahabad in Haryana’s Kurukshetra.

“The government had approached Punjab and Haryana High Court and instructions were passed by the high court to the government to get the highway cleared of blockades. Thus, the deputy commissioner, Kurukshetra and senior officers came to us and conveyed the government’s assurance that both our demands have been met. Thus, we decided to remove the blockades and clear the highways,” Chaduni told The Indian Express.

When Deputy Commissioner (Kurukshetra) Shantanu Sharma and Superintendent of Police (Kurukshetra) S S Bhoria reached the dharna spot and held a meeting with Chaduni, he handed over the public-address system to Sharma and asked him to announce the government’s decision. Sharma announced that the state government would immediately redress the farmers’ issues and thanked all those present for cooperating.

Standing on the bonnet of an SUV, Chaduni announced that since the government had met both their demands and the deputy commissioner had assured that the lifting of crops would begin immediately, the farmers would remove blockades and clear the highways. However, he added, in case the lifting of crops did not begin on Saturday, it would be the responsibility of the deputy commissioner and other officials present at the spot.

“We have decided to lift the blockades and clear the national highway of any obstruction since the government has agreed to both our demands,” BKU spokesman Rakesh Bains told The Indian Express. Bains said the chief minister had announced on Friday that the average yield of 30 quintals per acre will be considered for procurement at minimum support price (MSP) in the main paddy-yielding districts of the state and 28 quintals per acre in other paddy districts.

“He also assured us that the lifting of our crop shall begin immediately while the J-forms [sale receipt of a farmer’s agricultural produce in mandis or grain markets] will be issued from October 1. The government has also assured us that farmers would not face any inconvenience in getting their crops lifted. Thus, we decided to end the stir and remove the blockades from the national highway,” Bains added.

Farmers, under the banner of BKU, led by Chaduni had raised blockades since Friday at several places demanding that the government immediately begin paddy procurement.

On Friday night, the Haryana police had launched a crackdown and begun to raid places of several farmer leaders. “I have learnt that Haryana police have started raiding the residences of our farmer leaders. I appeal to our friends to ensure that they do not stay in their homes as there is a possibility that they would be arrested by the police. I would appeal to them to go into hiding so that they do not get caught. I would also appeal to my friends that should leave their mobile phones with their family members so that at least messages from our side can reach you,” Chaduni had said in a video message late on Friday. He added that he would issue an update on Saturday morning after talks with officials from the police and district administration.

On Friday evening, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said, “The state government was making strenuous efforts to ensure that farmers do not face any inconvenience during the procurement of Kharif crops starting from October 1. Hassle-free procurement is our utmost priority.”

Khattar on Friday evening also chaired a meeting with top officers on the purchase of Kharif crops. “Crops like paddy, millet, maize, moong, sunflower, groundnut, til, arhar and urad etc. will be procured during the marketing season 2022-23. Adequate arrangements for mandis have been made in this regard. Given the demand of the Arhtiyas Association, it was also decided in the meeting that Rs 100 per quintal will be charged, instead of a 4 per cent market fee on paddy which is not purchased at MSP i.e. basmati and duplicate basmati. Out of which, Rs 50 will go to Mandi Board and Rs 50 will be deposited in Haryana Rural Development Fund as cess,” the government had announced on Friday.

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