Farmers in Haryana called off their protest demanding Minimum Support Price (MSP) for sunflower seeds from the state government and also said that the blocked roads will be opened after their demands were met on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, it is to be noted that traffic on Delhi-Chandigarh National Highway 44 continued to be affected on Tuesday with farmers blocking the road at Pipli in Haryana's Kurukshetra over the demand to increase the minimum price for sunflower crops.
Farmer leader Karam Singh Mathana informed that the Haryana government has agreed to their demand for implementation of the MSP of Rs 6,400 for sunflower seeds.
"The major issue of MSP is still not solved but our meeting with the Government was successful. Today, the government has agreed to fulfil our demand," Karam Singh Mathana said.
"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," Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said.
The crops had been damaged due to unseasonal rains in the state in March-April this year. Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had on Saturday released Rs 29.13 crore as interim compensation to 8,528 farmers for sunflowers grown on 36,414 acres. The farmers are demanding that the state government procure sunflowers at an MSP of Rs 6,400 per quintal.
Under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana, price difference payment scheme, the state government is giving Rs 1,000 per quintal as interim support for sunflower crops sold below MSP.
Farmers hold protest demanding MSP, block national highway
Earlier, farmers had blocked the Delhi-Chandigarh National Highway after holding a mahapanchayat in the district. The protest saw leaders from various khaps along with the Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait while Olympic medal-winning wrestler Bajrang Punia, one of the grapplers who have been demanding action against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, also participated in the protest.
ALSO READ | Haryana: Agitated farmers demanding MSP for sunflower seeds slept overnight on highway I WATCH
ALSO READ | Haryana: Farmers hold protest demanding MSP, block national highway in Kurukshetra | WATCH
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