Kurukshetra deputy commissioner Shantanu Sharma confirmed that the farmers had been given assurances of a fair price for their sunflower crop.
After holding talks with farmers, Kurukshetra deputy commissioner (DC) Shantanu Sharma said, “Procurement of sunflower crop was started at Rs 4,800 per quintal by the administration. The government is in the interest of farmers. The Haryana government has decided to give an appropriate price for sunflower to the farmer either by increasing the price or the support payment under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana. We will fulfil this”.
The farmers had been blocking National Highway-44 near Pipli, a crucial route connecting Delhi and Chandigarh, as well as some other roads since Monday afternoon following a mahapanchayat (large gathering) on the matter.
Till about 8.30pm, there was no headway in the talks between the farmers and the government.
The farmers also demanded release of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Charuni national president Gurnam Singh Charuni and eight other of his associates, who were arrested on June 6, after Kurukshetra police opened NH-44 blockade by farmers using water-cannon and cane charging.
“We are ending our protest. 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.
Farmer leader Karam Singh Mathana said, “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”.
Supporting the Haryana farmers, the farm union leaders from Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh (UP), and Uttarakhand, also stayed put for a second day at the NH-44, while the number of farmers participating in the protest also remained significant in the scorching hot.
The farmers stretched durries and installed tents on the NH-44, to make their sit comfortable.
Initially on the second day, the talks were held with the local committee of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Charuni by the district administration, but those remained inconclusive.
Sources said the government offered the farmers that it cannot announce the procurement of sunflower on the MSP, but it can assure to pay the maximum price as compared to other states (Punjab and UP) in Haryana. However, the farmers remained adamant on the demand of Rs 6,400 MSP on sunflower.
As the local committee could not reach a conclusion in talks with the government, therefore, following its announcement, the leadership associated with Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which led year-long farmers’ protest at Delhi borders against three agri-marketing farm laws, decided to form a joint committee for furthering the Pipli protest.
The SKM leaders held a meeting and decided that the talks with the government will be done jointly by the representatives of the local BKU Charuni committee and the SKM.
Following, a committee comprising BKU Charuni Haryana state executive president Karam Singh Mathana, Charuni’s son Arshpal Singh Charuni, BKU Charuni Mahila president Suman Hooda, Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Union president Suresh Koth, BKU (Tikait) Haryana president Rattan Mann, BKU Krantikari president Surjit Singh Phul, was formed that went on to hold talks with the government officials at Parakeet Resort on the NH-44.
About the release of Charuni and his associates and cases against them, Kurukshetra superintendent of police (SP) Surinder Singh Bhoria said, “The entire matter has been discussed in detail with the committee. The demands have been accepted and how will these be implemented, the committee has been explained. Due procedure of investigation will be followed.”
Member of committee, Suresh Koth said, “The HAFED started procurement of sunflower at Rs 5,000 per quintal with Bharpai support of Rs 1,000. The issue got stuck on the remaining Rs 400 price on the sunflower. Later, the statement of Haryana chief minister was sought, who ensured that whatever the gap has been left would be covered in next few days to give farmers the entire price (Rs 6,400 MSP). We agreed to take Rs 6,400 per quintal price of sunflower in the next four to five days. We succeeded in forcing the government to come on its knees.”
At Pipli, BKU (Arajnaitik) spokesman Rakesh Tikait said on Tuesday, “We are demanding the MSP declared by the Prime Minister, but the Haryana chief minister is not implementing it in the state. The farmers are being defamed by talking about highways being jammed but the first question is of MSP.”
“The farmers should be ready for struggle. The andolan (protest) started at the issue of MSP will finish on the same,” Tikait added.