Haryana farmers threaten NH-44 blockade if paddy purchase delayed beyond September 15

Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni threatened to block NH-44 near Shahabad in Kurukshetra indefinitely from September 16 if the government does not start paddy purchase on September 15 instead of October 1. Charuni made the announcement at a kisan mahapanchayat in Yamunanagar’s Radaur, the constituency of agriculture minister Shyam Singh Rana, where he also demanded raising the sugarcane SAP to ₹600 and releasing outstanding Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana payments. He cited early maturing paddy varieties ready in 85-90 days as the reason for advancing procurement. Minister Rana said the government is working for farmers' interests and will discuss demands with chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, noting that paddy procurement was advanced to September 22 last year and positive action will be taken on feasible requests.