Chandigarh: Angered over delay in paddy procurement by the Haryana government, farmers clashed with police in various places of the state and even hoisted their flag on the roof of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's residence in Karnal district
The government had initially said that procurement of paddy will start from October 1, but on September 30, it issued a fresh notification stating that the procurement will start from October 11. This left the farmers agitated. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha announced that farmers will protest in front of the houses of BJP and JJP leaders on Saturday. Following this, farmers in various districts surrounded the houses of BJP and JJP MLAs and MPs.
In Karnal district, hundreds pf farmers laid siege to the residence of Chief Minister Khattar. They then hoisted the farmers' flag on the roof of his residence. Later, they surrounded his house and pitched tents and even started a community kitchen.
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In Kurukshetra, there were clashes between farmers and the police. The protesters also tried to besiege the residence of BJP MLA Subhash Sudha in Thanesar.
In Ambala, the farmers tried to surround the residence of BJP MLA Asim Goyal leading to a scuffle with the policemen deployed there. The police had set up barricades on the roads leading to the BJP MLA's house, but the farmers uprooted them. The police had a tough time calming down the protesters.
In Panchkula also, they staged a demonstration and tried to surround the residence of Assembly Speaker Gyanchand Gupta. During the protest, the farmers mounted on the barricades set up by the police. The police had to resort to lathi-charge to control them.
Farmers said that protests and dharnas will continue till the government buys paddy.
Farmers say that their crop is ripe and ready and they brought it to the mandis according to the first announcement of the government. However, there is no arrangement of sheds in the mandis and the crop lying in the market is rotting. The farmers are also suffering a lot due to rains.
The agitated farmers have decided to gherao the houses of BJP and JJP leaders on Saturday after a statement by farmer leader Gurnam Chadhuni.
Chadhuni had released a video on September 30 saying that if the government does not start procuring paddy from October 1, farmers should surround the houses of BJP and JJP leaders, MLAs and MPs and place paddy-filled trolleys from October 2.
"We are giving a warning,” he said. “Start buying from tomorrow, otherwise day after tomorrow the houses of your MLAs, MPs, and leaders will be surrounded in such a way that even the house dog will not be able to come out. Farmer comrades, wait for tomorrow, if the purchase does not come by, then besiege their houses the next day.”
