9 BKU Leaders Arrested Over Protest Demanding Government To Procure Sunflower Seeds At MSP

The protest started after the farmers said they were against the government's move to include sunflower seed in the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana,

Farmers during their protest against the Haryana government's decision to not buy sunflower seeds on MSP in Kurukshetra

Source : PTI

Nine leaders of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni), including its President Gurnam Singh Charuni, were arrested after farmers blocked a national highway demanding the government to procure sunflower seeds at minimum support price (MSP), said the police on Wednesday. All the nine leaders were arrested after a case was lodged under various Indian Penal Code sections, following their detention on Tuesday evening, they added, reported PTI. The BKU leaders were booked under charges pertaining to rioting, unlawful assembly and using of criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty. 

All the nine arrested farmers’ outfit leaders will be produced before a court on Wednesday. 

Led by Charuni, the farmers had blocked the highway near Shahabad in Haryana’s Kurukshetra for over six hours on Tuesday after which the police used water cannons and resorted to lathi charge to disperse the protesters.

Besides the nine BKU (Charuni) leaders, over two dozen protesters, who had been rounded up in connection with the farmers' protest, were released last night, Superintendent of Police, Kurukshetra, S S Bhoria told the news agency. 

Meanwhile, some farmers have gathered at the Shahabad-Ladwa Road near the grain market demanding the release of all arrested farmers, the report stated. 

As per reports, Rakesh Tikait was also expected to visit Shahabad to meet the protesting farmers after which the security was tightened in the area as a precautionary measure. 

“Everyone (farmers) is united on the issue of minimum support price (MSP) and this fight will prolong,” Tikait said. 

The protest started after the farmers said they were against the government's move to include sunflower seed in the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana, under which they said the government will pay a fixed compensation of Rs 1,000 per quintal against the produce sold below MSP.

As per the protestors they were forced to sell their produce to private buyers at around Rs 4,000 per quintal as against the MSP of Rs 6,400 per quintal.

Subscribe And Follow ABP Live On Telegram: https://t.me/officialabplive