Farmer unions block highway in Zirakpur

Irked over non-procurement of paddy at Nagla mandi in Zirakpur, a large number of farmer union members blocked the McDonald’s Chowk on the busy Chandigarh-Ambala National Highway this evening.

The farmers rued that there was no facility for water, toilet or food at the temporary mandi. They are forced to stay outdoors at night to guard their produce. The protest continued for two-three hours.

A large number of commuters were inconvenienced as they were caught in a massive traffic jam on both sides of the national highway.

Farmers alleged that piles of paddy had been lying in the mandi for the past one week but the procurement has not begun properly. The police reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesters.

Protest in Rupnagar

Rupnagar: Even as Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain kicked off paddy procurement yesterday, tension prevailed in local mandi today when procurement agencies reportedly refused to buy hybrid variety. Leaders of various farmers’ organisations and commission agents blocked the National Highway near Bhatta Sahib Chowk in protest. DSP Rajpal Singh Gill and Rupnagar City SHO Pawan Kumar reached the spot and appealed to the farmers to allow traffic movement.

SDM Sachin Pathak and other officials reached the mandi and held a meeting with the farmers.