Paddy ‘not bought’, farmers protest

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, September 30

Farmers under the banner of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) blocked roads, including state highways, and staged dharna in front of grain markets in Ambala and Kurukshetra on Wednesday.

They have decided to go on indefinite dharna from Thursday till their demands are met.

They are demanding streamlined paddy procurement, relaxation in condition of 17 per cent moisture content, and lifting through millers.

10,190 MT procured

Nearly 10,190 MT paddy stock has been procured by government agencies in Kurukshetra and 316 MT paddy has been lifted. Deputy Commissioner Sharandeep Kaur said “Directions have been issued to the officials to ensure that farmers don’t face any inconvenience.”

The farmers parked their tractors trailers in the middle of the roads and sat on a dharna.

Farmers blocked the Barara road, Yamunanagar road, Pehowa-Ambala road, Ismailabad-Ambala road and BR Chowk in Kurukshetra and Ambala-Hisar road, Jagadhri road, and Ambala-Naraingarh road in Ambala.

Due to the blockade, vehicular traffic got affected and traffic was diverted through various routes.

BKU chief Gurnam Singh accused the state government of making attempts to weaken the farmers’ protest and sending officials at grain markets for artificial purchase.

He said, “The permissible moisture limit should be revised to 22 per cent and the lifting should be through millers instead of contractors.”

“Farmers don’t have space to spread and dry the produce and they can’t follow the schedule system to bring produce. If the government pressurises them, then the farmers will have no other option but to spread paddy on roads including national and state highways,” he said.

Shahabad JJP MLA Ramkaran Kala reached the dharna site and extended support to the agitating farmers. But the farmers told the MLA to resign if he was really concerned about farmers’ issues.

MLA Ramkaran said that he was against the three farm Bills and also supports the farmers’ demands regarding paddy procurement.

BKU spokesman Rakesh Bains said, “We will resume the protest from Thursday morning and it will be an indefinite dharna this time.”