Shambhu blockade: After discussions fail, farmers gear up for August 31 mega rally

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 26

After the second round of talks between Haryana Government officials and farmers protesting at the Shambhu border failed, the protesting farmer unions are gearing up to hold a mega rally to observe 200 days of protest on August 31.

Farmer jathas, who have started converging on Shambhu border to participate in the mega rally, were raising slogans against the government, particularly against actress-turned-politician Kangna Ranaut and BJP Rajya Sabha member Ravneet Singh Bittu for making controversial statements.

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher urged the farmers of Puadh region, especially the villages falling in Patiala and nearby region to bring tractor-trailers and food that could be served as langar to people visiting Shambhu and Khanauri borders.

Meanwhile, tension escalated at Shambhu border after SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal and farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Baldev Singh Sirsa and Sukhdev Singh were stopped from catching a flight to Tamil Nadu from Delhi airport.

The farmers were going to attend the mahapanchayats organised by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) on the issue of MSP guarantee law in Tiruchirapalli and Puducherry.

Pandher also demanded government intervention in regulating basmati price. He said the area cultivated under basmati this season was about 7 lakh hectares, nearly 17 per cent more than last year’s 5.96 lakh hectares.

Market trends show that the rates of freshly harvested 1509 basmati variety, which has arrived in some mandis of Punjab’s Majha belt, is fetching Rs 2,400 to Rs 2,500 per quintal, which was around Rs 4,500 per quintal last season.