After Farmers' Protest in Haryana Turns Ugly, State Chief to Commence Paddy Procurement on Sunday

It has been over a year since protests against contentious farm laws began in India. Scores of farmers are demanding the repeal of the laws and agitating at the Delhi-Haryana and Delhi-Uttar Pradesh borders.

Thousands of farmers on Saturday protested against the Indian government's decision to delay paddy procurement and the contentious farm laws outside Haryana state Chief Manohar Lal Khattar's residence in capital city Karnal. Hours later, Khattar announced that the "procurement would start tomorrow", the news agency ANI reported.

Chandimandir toll, Panchkula, police did lathicharge on farmers who were going to gehrao BJP leader’s house. This is how citizens of India gets treated . Is it democracy? @watchthestate @hrw @AlJazeera @BBCHindi @OfficialBKU @OfficialBKU #FarmersProtest pic.twitter.com/HbbJuNNKqo

— Tikri Updates (@TikriUpdates) October 2, 2021

The protesters raised slogans, waved flags, and announced overnight scouting. Several visuals show farmers standing over police barricades and shouting, and according to media reports, the police used water cannon against them.

Farmers win again. Not even 24 hours passed & @mlkhattar has to meet food & supply minister to change the decision. “Procurement in Mandis will commence tomorrow onwards itself in Haryana”.

Kisaan Majdoor Ekta Zindabad.#FarmersProtest pic.twitter.com/ujO76Xvg2g

— Tikri Updates (@TikriUpdates) October 2, 2021

Earlier this week, the Indian government decided to delay the procurement process in Punjab and Haryana until 11 October. Khattar announced on Saturday that the government made this decision due to a delay in the monsoon.

After protesters gathered outside the residences of state ministers, Khattar and Agriculture Minister J.P. Dalal left for New Delhi to meet federal ministers to seek a solution.

According to media reports, clashes broke out between the protesters and police personnel after they tried to break barricades to reach the residences of lawmakers.

धान खरीद तत्काल शुरू करने और नई शर्तों को हटाने की मांग को लेकर करनाल में मुख्यमंत्री खट्टर के आवास का घेराव जारी।
अनिश्चितकाल के लिए है घेराव। #FarmersProtest pic.twitter.com/bMtOe7aN4o

— Tikri Updates (@TikriUpdates) October 2, 2021

On Friday, the farmers protested outside a college event in Haryana’s Jhajjar. The event was attended by Deputy Chief Dushyant Chautala and police used water cannon to disperse the protesters.

“Peaceful protest is the right of people but if they indulge in any sort of violence or block the highways or main roads, legal action shall be taken. We are closely monitoring the situation", a senior Haryana police officer was quoted as saying by Indian news outlet Indian Express.

India's apex court on Friday slammed a farmers' body after it sought directions from authorities to allow it to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

"You have strangulated the entire city and now you want to come within the city and start protest again here. There has to be some balanced approach", the court said.

Several farmers' organisations have been protesting against three contention farm laws -- the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 -- since last year. The Indian government has maintained that it will not repeal the laws and the matter is pending in court.