Tension broke out in Shahabad, Kurukshetra, on Tuesday, September 22, after farmers affiliated with the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Charuni marched towards the Delhi-Chandigarh National Highway-44 demanding the immediate start of government procurement of paddy.
Police had placed barricades to prevent the protesters from reaching the highway, and the situation escalated when some farmers attempted to cross them. Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters, while several BKU leaders were detained, according to reports. Farmers said they were protesting because paddy has already started arriving in mandis and they fear delays could force them to sell their produce below the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
The state government, meanwhile, has said it is coordinating with the Centre and that procurement arrangements are being reviewed. Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana had earlier said that much of the paddy currently arriving was basmati and that formal procurement would begin after field verification.
Protest Escalates At Highway
The protest was led by farmers associated with BKU Charuni, who gathered in Shahabad after the union’s September 20 deadline for the government to begin procurement passed without the process being formally started. The farmers had planned to march from the Shaheed Udham Singh memorial towards NH-44 and press for the immediate purchase of paddy.
Their concern centres on early-maturing non-basmati varieties that are already reaching grain markets, with farmers arguing that waiting until the scheduled procurement process could leave them with limited options to sell their crop at MSP.
As the march approached the highway, police stopped the protesters with barricades. Reports said the farmers tried to move past the barricades, following which water cannons and tear gas were used to disperse the gathering. The confrontation temporarily disrupted traffic on the busy highway, while a heavy police presence was maintained in the area.
The Tribune reported that farmers attempted to block the Delhi-Ambala National Highway and that police used both water cannons and tear gas. Hindustan Times reported that several BKU Charuni leaders were detained during the confrontation.
The farmers’ position is that procurement should begin as soon as the crop starts reaching mandis so that growers are not forced into distress sales. The union had earlier demanded procurement from September 15, and subsequently accepted September 20 as a deadline after discussions with the administration.
The government, however, has maintained that procurement requires coordination with the Centre and proper assessment of the crop. On September 20, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini held a meeting with farmers, commission agents, traders, rice millers and administrative officers at Babain Grain Market in Kurukshetra to review paddy procurement arrangements.
Dispute Builds Over Procurement
The confrontation follows weeks of disagreement over when Haryana’s paddy procurement should begin. Farmers had initially demanded that procurement start on September 15, arguing that early-maturing varieties are ready before the usual October 1 schedule. At a meeting in Shahabad on September 16, Kurukshetra Deputy Commissioner Vishram Kumar Meena met farmer leaders and assured them that the state had written to the Centre seeking advancement of procurement to September 20.
Farmers subsequently postponed their agitation but warned that they would return to the highway if procurement did not begin by the deadline.
The state government has pointed to practical considerations surrounding the procurement process. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana said on September 19 that most of the paddy currently reaching mandis was basmati and that formal procurement would begin after field verification. Earlier, Chief Minister Saini had said the state was in continuous contact with the Centre and assured farmers that they would not be allowed to face difficulties during the procurement season.
The government has also been reviewing arrangements related to mandis, storage, gunny bags, transportation and crop-quality checks.
The disagreement also reflects a wider issue faced by farmers during the transition between harvesting and government procurement. The Minimum Support Price for the 2026-27 kharif marketing season is ₹2,441 per quintal for common paddy and ₹2,461 per quintal for Grade A paddy, according to the Indian Express. Farmers’ concern is that if government agencies are not purchasing when their crop reaches the mandis, they may have to depend on private buyers and potentially accept lower prices.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Farmers have a legitimate stake in knowing when, where and how they can sell a crop on which their livelihoods depend, while authorities also have a responsibility to maintain public safety and ensure that major highways remain accessible. When disagreements over procurement turn into confrontations involving barricades, water cannons and tear gas, it underlines the need for timely communication and meaningful dialogue before tensions escalate.
A transparent timeline for procurement, clear information about eligibility and quality requirements, and regular engagement between farmer representatives and officials could help prevent uncertainty on the ground. Peaceful protest is an important part of public life, but so is ensuring that disagreements do not put people or essential public infrastructure at risk. How can governments and farmer organisations work together to resolve procurement disputes before they reach a point of confrontation?
VIDEO | Kurukshetra, Haryana: Police use water cannon to disperse farmers who were trying to block NH-44 near Shahabad over delay in paddy procurement by the government.#Haryana #FarmersProtest
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 22, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/d8jp61yd2p) pic.twitter.com/giR0ABTKs7
