Jind: Farmers protesting the new procurement norms in Haryana on Monday locked the gates of the grain market here and said their agitation would continue until the new rules were withdrawn.The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) activists also locked the gate of the market committee office for three hours to show their resentment against the procurement norms. They also staged a sit-in protest in the grain market and raised slogans against the govt.The police personnel were deployed in view of the protest.Addressing the protesting farmers, BKU district president Binder Numberdar said until the govt withdraws the new procurement norms, farmers would continue their agitation.He also highlighted the losses suffered by the farmers due to unseasonal rain and hailstorms, and demanded compensation.The protesting farmers criticised the market committee for not providing proper facilities such as accommodation and seating in the farmers’ rest house located adjacent to the office building.They argued that if gate passes could be issued manually due to disruptions in the e-procurement portal, then crop procurement could also be carried out manually. They urged the govt to withdraw the new norms at the earliest.After three hours of protest, the BKU activists opened the lock, following which crop procurement activities resumed.Meanwhile, officials claimed that all arrangements had been made for smooth procurement.MSID:: 130394796 413 |
