Delhi-Kurukshetra Highway Blocked! Farmers Protest Over MSP for Sunflower Seed

Farmers protesting over not getting MSP on sunflower crops have blocked the national highway to Delhi after the relief announced by the chief minister. On Saturday, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced Rs 29.13 crore as ‘bharpai’ to farmers against sunflowers cultivated on more than 36,000 acres. The relief amount was released under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana.

Farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and other neighbouring states blocked the Delhi-Kurukshetra highway at Pipli village of Kurukshetra. Farmer leaders from different states have joined the ‘MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao maha panchayat’ in order to raise their demand.   

The state government is offering Rs 1,000 per quintal as interim relief for the sunflower crop which is sold under the MSP.  As per the media reports, the farmers protesting against the sunflower procurement and MSP claimed that the concerned government is not purchasing sunflower seeds at the MSP rate. Additionally, they claimed that they were also forced to sell their seeds to private buyers at Rs 4,000 per quintal whereas the MSP price is set to Rs 6,400. 

Bajrang Punia is getting massive support from farmers during the protest held against BJP MP and Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh attended the protest along with Rakesh Tikait.

Bhartiya Kisan Union chief Gurnam Singh Churani blocked the national highway for nearly six hours demanding the MSP for sunflower crop. Later, Police resorted to lathi-charge and used water cannons to tear apart the protestors. Moreover, nine Bhartiya Kisan Union leaders including its president were arrested against charges like unlawful assembly and rioting.

Manohar Lal Khattar said that farmers from other states were coming to the state’s mandi to sell their crops and a similar issue is arising in the procurement of sunflowers. Hence, an interim relief has been announced as the market price keeps on fluctuating.