10 farmer unions gear up in Haryana to protest for pending demands

Accusing the state government of not paying attention to the farmers’ issues, 10 farmer unions under the banner of the Haryana Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Morcha of the state have started gearing up to hold a protest and gherao the CM’s residence in Kurukshetra. The farmers’ unions have been motivating the farmers to gather in large numbers in Kurukshetra on September 1, to put pressure on the state government.

The farmers have been seeking girdawari and compensation for the losses due to southern rice black streaked dwarf virus, procurement of paddy from September 15 and rollback of the smart meter scheme. Timely purchase of crops at minimum support price (MSP), ban on the sales of substandard seeds and pesticides and transparency in distribution. They also demand, cleaning of canals, drains and irrigation facilities, abolish unnecessary conditions and process in obtaining tubewell connection, and transparency in the crop insurance scheme.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (Pehowa) spokesman Prince Waraich said, “On August 8, the farmers had submitted memorandum in support of the pending demands at the district level in the state and the government was requested to resolve the issues at the earliest. But so far, the government has shown no positive response, following which the morcha has decided that a big protest will be held in Kurukshetra and the farmers from across the state will reach here to Gherao the CM’s residence. The farmers will gather at Tau Devilal Park, hold a protest march and reach the CM’s residence.”

“The government has been implementing new policies without even consulting the farmers due to which the farmers face inconvenience at the ground level. The condition of the Meri Fasal Mera Byora Portal in fertiliser distribution should be abolished and paddy procurement should be started from September 15. There has been no response from the government so far on the damage caused by the southern rice black streaked dwarf virus. Due to all these reasons, farming has become a continuous loss-making deal. All unions have been motivating the farmers in their respective areas to reach Kurukshetra in large numbers,” he added.