Pipli, Haryana – After two days of blocking the Delhi-Chandigarh national highway near Pipli, agitating farmers have ended their protest following the assurance from the Haryana government to address their demands for an appropriate price for the sunflower crop. The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader, Rakesh Tikait, announced that the government has also agreed to withdraw the cases filed against the farmers.
In a statement to ANI, Tikait said, “We are ending our protest. The blocked roads will be opened today. We were protesting so that our crops are purchased at MSP. We will keep fighting for MSP across the country. Our leaders will also be released soon. Cases filed against our leaders will be taken back.”
The impasse between the farmers and the government was resolved during a meeting held in the evening, where government representatives assured the protesting farmers of an appropriate price for the sunflower crop. Kurukshetra’s Deputy Commissioner, Shantanu Sharma, stated that the Haryana government has always supported the farmers.
The farmers’ primary demand was the procurement of sunflower seeds at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the release of farmer leaders who were recently arrested in Shahabad. The farmers insisted that the Haryana government should procure sunflower seeds at an MSP of Rs 6,400 per quintal, according to PTI.
The ‘MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao Mahapanchayat’ was organized at a grain market in Pipli, near NH-44, where farmers from Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan participated. Subsequently, the farmers blocked the national highway and some other routes in protest.
Raising concerns beyond Haryana, Tikait emphasized the need for an MSP law for all crops, as promised by the Union government during the withdrawal of the farmers’ agitation against the now repealed farm laws.
In a separate development, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar released Rs 29.13 crore as interim compensation to 8,528 farmers for sunflowers grown on 36,414 acres. Under the ‘Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana’ or the price difference payment scheme, the state government is providing interim support of Rs 1,000 per quintal for sunflower crops sold below the MSP, as reported by PTI.
The resolution of the protest and the government’s commitment to addressing the farmers’ demands have brought temporary relief to the agitating farmers. However, the larger issue of ensuring fair prices for all crops and the implementation of comprehensive MSP laws across the country remains a subject of ongoing concern and discussion among farming communities.
Sources By Agencies
