The Centre’s reversal got here after farmers from the 2 states staged indignant protests at a number of locations. Some thousand farmers even gathered outdoors the residence of Haryana chief minister Manohar Khattar to protest the delay in procurement.
“The procurement (of Kharif crops) will begin from tomorrow in Haryana in addition to Punjab,” mentioned Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey.
On Thursday, the Centre had postponed procurement of kharif paddy in Punjab and Haryana — which often begins on October 1 — to October 11.
It mentioned choice to postpone the method was taken because the crop maturity is delayed and moisture content material in recent arrival is past permissible limits owing to current heavy rains.
Farmers stage protest
Earlier, in Karnal, the Haryana Police used water cannons to disperse protesting farmers after they tried to put siege on Khattar’s residence.
In Shahabad and Panchkula, the agitators used tractors to interrupt police barricades to achieve homes of BJP leaders, together with Haryana minister Sandeep Singh, officers mentioned.
The scenario turned tense in just a few locations in Haryana and Punjab after minor clashes broke out between farmers and police.
#WATCH | Haryana: Protesters break police barricade in Yamunanagar as they held an illustration close to the residence… https://t.co/Sq2QSqjeP1
— ANI (@ANI) 1633173335000
In a number of locations in these states farmers after reaching residences of ministers, legislators and MPs, parked their meals grain-laden trolleys in entrance of their homes.
In Punjab, farmers gathered outdoors the residences of a number of Congress legislators, together with state meeting Speaker Rana Okay P Singh in Rupnagar and MLA Harjot Kamal in Moga, and staged protests over the delay in buy of paddy crop.
Police mentioned that there was no report of any “main” untoward incident from the 2 states.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) had on Friday given a name for holding protests outdoors the residences of legislators in each states to register their protest over the delay in buying paddy crop.
Centre blinks
Following the protests, the Centre introduced that the procurement course of will now start from tomorrow, as a substitute of October 11.
The choice got here after Choubey, who’s minister of state for client affairs, meals & public distribution, met with Haryana CM Khattar within the nationwide Capital.
“On account of delay in monsoon, the Centre had postponed begin of procurement of paddy & millet to Oct 11 from Oct 1 this yr … There are calls for for an early begin. The procurement will begin tomorrow,” Haryana CM Khattar instructed reporters after the assembly.
Farmers had expressed apprehension that they’d endure if their crop is just not bought on the grain markets.
Paddy crop, although in small amount, has began arriving in mandis (markets) particularly in border areas of Punjab, farmers mentioned.
They mentioned the farmers who’ve introduced their crop at mandis, will go if their crop is just not bought. Some worry that they’d be compelled to promote crops under the minimal assist value to non-public merchants.
The SKM referred to as off the demonstrations after the central authorities agreed to acquire paddy beginning October 3.
(With inputs from companies)
