Ambala, June 2: Angered by the lack of procurement of sunflower as per the prescribed rules, farmers associated with the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) blocked the Ambala-Delhi National Highway in front of the grain market located at Mohra, Ambala Cantt, on Tuesday. They raised slogans against the administration. Due to the sudden blockade, long queues of hundreds of vehicles formed, causing immense hardship to travelers in the scorching heat.
Farmer leader Jai Singh Jalbera stated that this is a fight for their rights. He alleged that sunflower procurement in the mandi is not being done according to the rules. He said that due to the shortage of sacks (bardana), they had given an ultimatum to the administration on Monday, but when their demands were not met, they were forced to take to the streets. He had told the secretary yesterday that if the bardana did not arrive, they would block the road. Jalbera demanded the suspension of the responsible officials.
Upon receiving the information about the highway blockade, police and administrative officials rushed to the spot with a large force to control the situation. While police officers tried to persuade the farmer leaders to lift the blockade, the farmers remained firm on their demands. Farmer leader Gurmeet Singh Majri said that the protest would continue until the sunflower procurement begins smoothly and a permanent solution to the sack shortage is found.
Upon contact, farmer leader Manjeet Singh Shergill informed that the administration has accepted their demands and procurement has started. As a result, traffic movement resumed around 4:30 PM.