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New Delhi, June 13, 2023 (PPI-OT): Farmers agitation in Sikh dominated areas in Haryana and Punjab states where sentiments for a separate Sikh state, Khalistan, are high have once again come out of their houses to protest against New Delhi’s policies.
Backed Olympian wrestler Bajrang Punia, farmers from Haryana state on Monday blocked the Delhi-Haryana highway as they marched towards New Delhi, India’s capital. The farmers are protesting over not getting a Minimum Support Price (MSP) in the procurement of sunflower crop, today blocked a national highway to Delhi as they aren’t satisfied with the relief announced by the Chief Minister. They took the decision to block traffic on the National Highway 44 at a ‘mahapanchayat’ held in the Pipli village of Kurukshetra district. Traffic has been diverted on the Delhi-Chandigarh route to avoid congestion.
Farm leaders from Haryana, Punjab, UP and other neighbouring states had gathered at the Pipli grain market for the ‘MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao’ mahapanchayat to press their demand. Olympian wrestler Bajrang Punia, who recently received support from the state’s farmers during the ongoing protests against Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on sexual harassment charges, attended the mahapanchayat along with farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, who led the massive year-long farmers’ agitation against the now-repealed controversial farm laws.
Farmers led by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni had June 6 blocked the national highway near Shahabad for over six hours, demanding that the government procure sunflower seeds at minimum support price (MSP). Police used water cannons and resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters. Later, nine BKU (Charuni) leaders, including its president, were arrested over various charges, including rioting and unlawful assembly.
Addressing the mahapanchayat, some farm leaders today criticised the government for its “anti-farmers” policies and police actions against their leaders. They demanded that the government procure sunflower seeds at MSP and that the protesters arrested in Shahabad recently be released.
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