The Kurukshetra police used tear gas and water cannons after farmers under the banner of BKU (Charuni) attempted to block the Delhi-Ambala national highway (NH-44) in Shahabad to press their demand for advance paddy procurement on Tuesday.
Farmer unions in Haryana had been demanding early paddy procurement and had given a call to block the national highway on September 22 if procurement was not started by then.
Following the call, farmers gathered at Shaheed Udham Singh Memorial on the Shahabad-Barara road.
Meanwhile, heavy police deployment was made and barricades were installed to stop the farmers from reaching the national highway.
Deputy Commissioner, Kurukshetra, Vishram Kumar Meena held a meeting with farmer leaders and assured them that the government would start procurement soon; however, the talks remained inconclusive. The farmers refused to withdraw the call and started marching towards the national highway. As the farmers tried to break the barricades, the police used tear gas and water cannons.
However, a number of farmers still managed to reach the highway through other routes and some even reached the flyover to stop vehicles. They were soon removed by the police. Some farmers and policemen suffered injuries during the face-off.
After the police action, the farmers started a dharna on the Shahabad-Barara road and appealed to other farmer unions to reach Shahabad on Wednesday to decide the future course of action.
BKU (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni said, “Despite repeated requests, the government has failed to start procurement and the farmers are left with no other choice but to start an agitation. Every year, paddy farmers are forced to block the national highway to get procurement started. There is a deep-rooted nexus and some corrupt officials want to loot the farmers. Even the bogus registration on the MFMB portal will be verified now as the government has delayed the verification process. The government has no plans to start procurement and it has just been wasting time. We have started a dharna and a further decision will be taken on Wednesday. Leaders from other unions have started arriving, and a strict decision will be taken.”
“Several farmers have been detained by the police and many have also suffered injuries due to the use of water cannons, tear gas and lathicharge during the police action. We have decided to keep staging a dharna till procurement is started,” Charuni said.
The Haryana Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Morcha has extended its support to the agitating farmers. Morcha leader Prince Waraich, who reached Shahabad, said, “The paddy produce has been lying in the grain markets for several days without any procurement. The government has failed to fulfil the demands being raised by the farmers and police action against farmers who have been raising genuine demands is unacceptable.”
SP, Kurukshetra, Chander Mohan said that farmers attempted to block the highway, however, it was ensured that the highway was not affected. To stop the farmers, water cannons and tear gas were used. A couple of policemen also suffered injuries during the face-off. The farmers have been appealed to maintain peace.
Kurukshetra DC Vishram Kumar Meena said, “The state government had sent a request to the central government regarding early procurement and relaxation in moisture and approval is expected anytime soon. The farmers have been apprised of the situation. They have also been assured that the state government will start procurement at its own level around September 25, if there is any further delay in receiving approval. The farmer leaders have been urged to resolve the issue through dialogue instead of blocking the national highway as it will only cause inconvenience to the general public.”
