Karnal farmers, arhtiyas protest non-purchase of paddy at mandi

A large number of farmers and arhtiyas staged a protest at the Karnal grain market on Sunday afternoon over the non-procurement of paddy or procurement below the MSP. The dharna continued till the filing of this report disrupting operations at the grain market. Farmers and arhtiyas warned that if procurement does not begin immediately, they might escalate their agitation and block GT Road.

Farmers claim that paddy is being purchased at extremely low rates by some opportunistic buyers and others are being denied fair prices citing moisture content as an excuse.

“Today, we have blocked the mandi from inside and even closed the weighing machine unit. But if the government does not start buying crops soon, we will block the highways as well,” said Rattan Mann, state president of BKU.

He alleged that farmers are being cheated on the pretext of moisture content. Either procurement is not taking place, or if it does, traders are making a cut of Rs 200–800 per quintal.

Rajnish Chaudhary, president of the Karnal Arhtiyas Association, accused officials of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department of deliberately delaying procurement. “The department is not clearing the files of rice millers due to which they are not coming forward. Until the millers participate, farmers’ crops will continue to be procured at throwaway prices. This is an organised nexus to cheat the people,” Chaudhary said.

Farmers, including Surinder Sangwan and Mahtab Kadian, also alleged that grain markets have become centres of exploitation. They demanded that the government should immediately begin procurement so that farmers who have brought their crops to the market get the correct price for their produce. “Our crops are being looted in the name of moisture content. This is completely unacceptable. The government must intervene immediately,” said Kadian.

The blockade resulted in long queues of tractors and trailers loaded with paddy on the service lanes of National Highway-44.

Meanwhile, farmers and arhtiyas staged a protest at Nigdhu grain market over non-procurement of paddy. They alleged that even after the assignment of the grain market, rice millers were not showing interest in procurement, forcing the farmers to protest. They locked the gate at around 12:30 pm, and after assurances regarding the assignment of other millers, they lifted the protest at around 3 pm. “Those who were assigned procurement at Nigdhu grain market were not showing interest. So we had no option but to protest. Now, we have been assured of five other millers for procurement after which we ended the protest,” said a farmer.

During the protest, former CM and CLP leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda reached the Karnal grain market, but due to the farmers’ protest, he had to leave his vehicles at the gate and walk into the mandi. Hooda personally listened to the farmers’ grievances at the dharna site.

JJP chief extends support

JJP president Ajay Chautala reached the Karnal grain market and joined the dharna staged by farmers and arhtiyas. He accused the government of non-procurement of paddy and alleged that any ongoing procurement is being conducted below the MSP.