Protesting farmers block Kurukshetra-Delhi National Highway over MSP

NEW DELHI,JUNE 12 : Farmers with their tractors on roads in Haryana’s Kurukshetra, blocked the national highway (NH) to Delhi after a mahapanchayat on Monday as they protested against the Haryana government’s decision not to buy sunflower seeds at the minimum support price (MSP).

The protesting farmers reached the national highway demanding MSP for sunflower seed and other demands. They had gathered on the flyover near Pipli in Kurukshetra district.

Apart from key farmer leaders including Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, wrestler Bajrang Punia was also present during the mahapanchayat. He is one of the top grapplers demanding action against Wrestlers Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Police lathicharge protesting farmers in Kurukshetra, Congress’s ‘stick govt’ jibe at Haryana CM

The protesting farmers claimed that the state government was not buying sunflower seeds at the MSP, and they were forced to sell their produce to private buyers at around Rs 4,000 per quintal against Rs 6,400 MSP. They sought procurement of sunflower seeds by the government at the MSP of Rs 6,400 per quintal.

When their demands were not fulfilled, the farmers blocked the Delhi-Amritsar National Highway in Kurukshetra on June 6. The police then lathi-charged the crowd to clear the road.

Later, nine BKU (Charuni) leaders, including its president, were arrested over various charges, including rioting and unlawful assembly.