Farmers protesting over the MSP for sunflower seeds called off their stir on Tuesday night after an assurance from the state government of ''appropriate price'' for the crop. BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said after fresh talks with the district administration in the evening, the farmers have ended the protest in Kurukshetra's Pipli and the national highway blockade will be lifted.
Kurukshetra Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shantanu Sharma said that farmers have been assured of ''appropriate price'' for sunflower crop. The national highway in Pipli had remained blocked for the second day on Tuesday over the farmers' demand for MSP for sunflower seeds.
The farmers at Pipli in Kurukshetra continued their protest for a second day on Tuesday, blocking the national highway over Minimum Support Price (MSP) for sunflower seeds, triggering a tough time for the commuters.
Farmers slept overnight on the national highway as they installed tents and temporary sheds. Police had to divert the traffic through link roads. Various rounds of talks were held between the district administration and farmer leaders in the past two days but remained inconclusive.
The farmers said they would not leave the highway till the government agreed to procure the oilseeds at the MSP of Rs 6,400 per quintal as announced for the crop by the Central government for 2022-23.
In an affidavit in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the state government said talks were going on with the farmer leaders and a solution to the problem will be found soon. "Other routes are being used as an alternative to run the traffic smoothly."
The oilseed growers are not happy with the relief announced on June 10 by Chief Minister Khattar, saying it was an attempt to prevent the 'mahapanchayat' called by farmers' associations.
Addressing the 'mahapanchayat', BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said the government should release the farmer leaders who were arrested for blocking the national highway and ensure procurement at the MSP, or protests would be held across the country.
Tikait urged the state government to either meet the demand of the farmers or put those protesting in Jail. After conducting a mahapanchayat on the issue, the protesting farmers started the blockade on National Highway-44, the main route connecting Delhi with Chandigarh and other states of north India.
As the deadlock persisted, some farmers set up tents on the highway to shield themselves from the intense heat. Tikait affirmed that the farmers would not end their protest and demanded that the government either fulfill their demands or take legal action by sending them to jail.
Apart from the MSP for sunflower seeds, the protesting farmers are demanding the release of nine farmer union leaders who were arrested during a protest at Shahabad here recently. Kurukshetra Superintendent of Police Surinder Singh Bhoria said, “The district administration is trying to persuade the farmers to lift the blockade and was hopeful that a solution would be found.
A fresh case has been registered against the protesters under relevant provisions of law for blocking the national highway. Prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 imposed in an area of 2 km radius of grain market Pipli, where farmers held their mahapanchayat, have been violated.”
The 'MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao Mahapanchayat', called by the BKU (Charuni), was held at a grain market in Pipli close to NH-44. Subsequently, the farmers blocked the highway. The district administration and the police have been making efforts to persuade the protesting farmers to lift the blockade, which has caused inconvenience to commuters.
TRAFFIC ADVISORY
According to the police advisory, commuters coming from the Ambala side have been diverted from Sadhopur to NH152-D (Chandigarh-Hisar) and further commuters can travel via Ismailabad, Karnal and beyond via the NH-44. They can take a turn from Ambala Cantonment bus stand to travel towards Delhi side via Mahesh Nagar, Saha, Radaur, Ladwa, Karnal and further via NH-44.
For traffic from Delhi, the commuters can turn via Indri road from Karnal on the NH-44 and travel via Ladwa, Babain, Shahbad and take the NH-44 for their further destination or turn right from Ladwa Chowk to travel via Radaur and take the NH3-44 (Saharanpur-Panchkula) or travel till Nilokheri in Karnal and take Dhand road to reach Kaul and commute via the NH152D for Ambala.
