Khanna: Farmers staged a protest on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh National Highway in Samrala, Khanna district. Due to the lack of paddy procurement at the grain markets of Samrala and Machhiwara Sahib, there was significant anger among the farmers, leading them to block the entire road with their tractor-trailers. They vocally expressed their frustration against the government and administration. This protest was organized under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Kadian). Hardip Singh Gyaspura, the district president of the union, mentioned that there was a strike by middlemen from October 1 to 6.
On October 7, a procurement auction was initiated by Ludhiana’s Deputy Commissioner Jitender Joshi at Khanna, Asia’s largest grain market. However, auctions did not happen in most markets afterward. The markets of Samrala and Machhiwara Sahib are also in Ludhiana district, and no auction was conducted there. Farmers are facing difficulties due to the lack of procurement. When they visit the offices, officials are often absent, and calls go unanswered. Alamdeep Singh, president of the Samrala Aarthi Association, stated that they have been demanding the start of procurement for three days. After the farmers blocked the road today, the administration took action, and procurement has now started at the Samrala grain market.