Farmers in Haryana panic over delay in procurement of foodgrains

The decision to start grain procurement 10 days late came as a shock to the government

Farmers besiege CM Khattar and minister's residence, break barricades: police baton charge, mine of water cannon

Purchased from 25th September and 1st October, millions of grains delayed due to rains

Karnal: The farmers' movement in Haryana is becoming more violent. With the enactment of agricultural laws, farmers have now started picketing on various issues including support prices, delay in procurement of foodgrains. Farmers, especially those who are late in buying foodgrains, are upset.

Disgruntled farmers besieged the residence of Chief Minister Manoharlal Khattar in Karnal. While in Panchkula the farmers broke the barricades with a tractor and moved on. Seeing the outrage of the farmers, the government has jumped on the bandwagon and promised to buy foodgrains from the third date.

Earlier, protesting farmers tried to cordon off the Chief Minister's residence in Karnal, during which police broke down barricades. Following which, the police launched a water cannon to control the farmers.

Farmers say the government has backtracked on its promise. The picketing will continue till the government buys the foodgrains. Farmers in Panchkula also went on a rampage, following which the police charged with batons. In which some farmers were injured.

Earlier, farmers were beheaded in the same Karnal last month. Now that the farmers have started agitation again, the government has come to a standstill. Farmers say the Center and the state government are deliberately harassing them.

Many farmers in Punjab and Haryana have brought their crops to the mandi but they are angry as no purchase is being made. On the other hand, farmers' crops are also being ruined due to rains and are facing heavy losses. The grain brought by the farmers to the market is deteriorating due to rains.

It may be noted that the procurement of foodgrains in the kharif season of 2021-22 in Punjab was to start from October 1 while in Haryana it was to start from September 25. Thus Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted in support of the farmers' demands and increased pressure on the Khattar government. While the Congress said that the central government was moving towards abolishing the APMC by not buying paddy.

It may be noted that the procurement of paddy by the Central Government was postponed till October 11. The rains, on the other hand, have begun to spoil the grain. So the farmers are in a lot of trouble now.

Apart from the Chief Minister's residence in Haryana, the farmers also besieged the residence of Sports Minister Sandeep Singh, former BJP minister and Chief Minister's political adviser Krishna Bedi and Jajpa MLA Ramkaran Kala. Day by day, the anger of the farmers as well as the state government is growing. The government is swayed by the farmers' agitation and procurement of paddy will start from October 3, not after October 11.

In this regard, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had a meeting with Union Minister Ashwini Chaubey. In which an early purchase decision was made. In Punjab too, the Congress government has decided to start buying foodgrains from October 3. So the farmers' movement has been successful although delays in procurement have damaged crores of crops.