Tractor rallies across Hry back Punjab farmers' stir

INLD general secretary Abhay Chautala and former CM Hooda urge Dallewal to end fast and lead the protest

- HT Correspondent

ROHTAK: Farmers across Haryana on Monday took out tractor marches and staged protests against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre in support of Punjab farmers who have been camping under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha at Khanauri and Shambhu border points since February 13.

Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a cancer patient and president of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur), has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border point to press for acceptance of the farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP on crops.

In Hisar, peasants took out a tractor march from Ramayan toll plaza to the mini secretariat in Hansi where they submitted a memorandum to the sub-divisional magistrate. Similar protests were seen in Rohtak, Bhiwani, Sirsa, Jind, Kaithal, Yamunanagar and other parts of the state.

Activists owing allegiance to the Bharatiya Kisan Naujawan Union took out tractor marches in Sonipat and Panipat district. In Ambala city, farmers resorted to sloganeering against the Centre and also burnt its effigy during their tractor march.

Dayanand Punia, a farmer leader from Bhiwani, said the Union government has been reluctant to come up with a legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, "which was promised when farmers had called off their stir in 2021".

"The health of veteran farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal is worsening every day. The government is neither accepting farmers' demands nor allowing the protesters to move towards Delhi through Haryana," he added.