Haryana Farmer Mahapanchayat Demands MSP, Blocks NH 44

Farmers participating in the MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao Mahapanchayat at the Pipli grain market, in Haryana’s Kurukshetra district, blocked National Highway (NH) 44 on Monday afternoon after state government representatives didn’t meet them by the 2 pm deadline. 

#WATCH | Haryana: Farmers with their tractors on roads of Kurukshetra as they gather here to hold Mahapanchyat over their demand for Minimum Support Price for sunflower seed. pic.twitter.com/5HOSvDEKww

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2023

Sources told Newsclick that government representatives were supposed to attend the gathering by 2 pm following discussions with farmer leaders.

The Mahapanchayat, called by the BKU (Charuni) faction, demanded MSP for all crops and the release of farmer leaders arrested during the lathi charge in the Shahabad Markanda subdivision of Kurukshetra on June 6.

According to farmer leaders, around one lakh farmers from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh were present at the Mahapanchayat. The leaders threatened to launch a nationwide movement if the demands aren’t met. 

BKU leader and national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait told Newsclick that “there is no turning back unless our demands are met”. 

“Now, the government has to decide for how long it wants us to be on roads because we are not going anywhere unless our demands are met,” he said. 

Though Tikait denied blocking the highway. “We are not blocking the highway. It is not right. Highways should not be blocked,” he told news agency ANI.

#WATCH | We are not blocking the highway. It is not right, highways should not be blocked: Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait in Haryana's Kurukshetra pic.twitter.com/6XjMLzeRBu

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2023

Farmers under Gurnam Singh Charuni, who too was arrested on June 6, in Haryana have been demanding MSP for the sunflower seeds and had given the deadline of June 5. 

The Manohar Lal Khattar government had instead sunflower seeds under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana, which pays a fixed compensation to farmers against their produce sold below MSP. 

Another farmer leader, Indra Jeet, said the protest would continue until MSP for all crops isn’t guaranteed. “The Khattar-led BJP government didn’t even give the declared MSP of Rs 2,000 for mustard seeds and paid only Rs 1,000,” he alleged. 

Bajrang Punia, one of the prominent wrestlers protesting the alleged sexual harassment of female wrestlers by Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP Lok Sabha member Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, also attended the gathering and supported the farmers. 

#WATCH | We have come here to support the farmers. Even we come from farmer families. We will stand with the farmers who are standing on the roads. We have supported farmers even during the farmers' protest and we will keep supporting them: Wrestler Bajrang Punia at Kisan… pic.twitter.com/EDCixiYHuU

— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2023

“I am here because I am also from a farmer’s family. We are fighting against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and you [farmers] against Ajay Mishra Teni [MoS for home]. Now is the time to fight together,” he said lending his support to the Mahapanchayat. 

Targeting the Centre and the Haryana government for “suppressing dissent,” BKU legal coordinator Chitwan Godara told Newsclick that the “government suppresses voices that demand rights”. 

“From wrestlers to youth and farmers to labourers, everyone is on the streets. But the government is not ready to listen to them. The government is against the Constitution. We have demanded only MSP, announced by the government itself,” he added.

Haryana Kisan Sabha general secretary Sumit Dalal alleged that the “Khattar government sent notices to many farmer leaders in the last two days to intimidate them and create fear. But farmers are not afraid of batons and bullets. There will be a fierce battle for MSP”.