Farmers Movement Archive

Tempers run high at Ambala grain market as farmers, arhtiyas face off

Ambala: A group of farmers associated with BKU (Charuni) got into an argument with arhtiyas at Ambala City grain market on Friday, telling them to start filling wheat in gunny bags when the latter (arhtiyas) were on strike. Led by BKU Haryana (Charuni) Ambala block-I leader Jai Singh Jalbera, farmers had a verbal spat with Haryana State Arhtiyas Association chief patron Duni Chand over the issue. While many farmers have already brought their wheat to the grain market, the stock is not being procured. Farmers demanded that their crop be purchased and alleged that the government has failed to streamline the process. Jai Singh reached the grain market after some farmers who had been waiting for the lifting of their crop since the previous night reported the matter to him. Meanwhile, Duni Chand maintained that due to the statewide strike by arhtiyas, they cannot start lifting the crop. BKU Haryana (Charuni) Ambala district president Malkiat Singh Sahibpura said, “We support the statewide agitation of arhtiyas and demand from the government to resume the old system. Some farmers who had reached the market with crops are worried about procurement and indulged in a spat with the arhtiya leader. But there is no difference between arhtiyas and farmers.” Officials claimed to have started wheat procurement through agencies like food and civil supplies and consumer affairs department, Haryana Warehousing Corporation and Hafed. As per data released by deputy commissioners, 17,265MT wheat has been procured in Kurukshetra, 15,028MT in Yamunanagar and 27,226.3MT in Ambala till Friday afternoon. Additional chief secretary of employment, mining and housing for all T C Gupta and Yamunanagar DC Mukul Kumar also inspected the ongoing process at Jagadhri grain market on. Regarding the arhtiyas’ strike, Gupta said, “The government is holding discussions with the representatives of arhtiyas and some solution is expected soon. The government is committed to purchasing wheat from farmers... It is the Centre’s decision to deposit the amount directly into the account of farmers and the state government is extending all possible cooperation to farmers and arhtiyas.”

The Times of India

2021-04-10

Chandigarh