In June 2023 sunflower growers in Kurukshetra, Haryana, twice blocked the Delhi-Chandigarh highway (NH-44) to demand that the state buy their crop at the central minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 6,400 a quintal. Police used water cannon and lathis at Shahabad on 6 June and nine leaders of BKU (Charuni), including Gurnam Singh Charuni, were jailed. After a mahapanchayat and a second blockade at Pipli, the stir ended on 13 June when the administration raised its rate and promised a "fair price"; the nine were released on bail on 15 June.
Key takeaways
- In May 2023 Haryana put sunflower under its Bhavantar Bharpai scheme, paying Rs 1,000 a quintal instead of buying the crop at the Rs 6,400 MSP.
- On 6 June 2023 police used water cannon and a cane charge to clear a BKU (Charuni) blockade of NH-44 at Shahabad, and nine leaders including Gurnam Singh Charuni were jailed in a case that included attempt to murder.
- A second blockade after the 12 June Pipli mahapanchayat ended on 13 June when officials raised the rate to Rs 5,000 plus Rs 1,000; the nine got bail on 15 June. From 2024 Hafed bought sunflower at full MSP.
Background: MSP, Bhavantar and the price crash
The Centre's sunflower MSP was Rs 6,400 a quintal, but farmers said private buyers paid about Rs 4,000 Tribune.
On 30 May 2023 the BJP-JJP government added sunflower to the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana (BBY) IANS via NewsGram. An Agriculture Department letter said growers would get support on the template used for bajra, with "interim support of Rs 1,000 a quintal for the time being" Tribune.
BKU (Charuni) objected at once. Its spokesman Rakesh Bains said the government was "trying to escape from the procurement on MSP" and that farmers should get the full gap between MSP and market price, not a fixed Rs 1,000 Tribune. Hafed, the state agency, was buying at about Rs 4,800 to Rs 4,850, so with the Rs 1,000 top-up growers received about Rs 5,800, or Rs 600 below MSP Tribune ANI via The News Mill.
On 2 June a farmers' mahapanchayat at Shahabad threatened to block NH-44 but deferred the protest to 6 June after the Deputy Commissioner arranged talks in Chandigarh Tribune.
6 June: the Shahabad blockade and lathicharge
On 6 June farmers answering Charuni's call crossed police barricades and sat on the NH-44 flyover at Shahabad from about 12.30 pm, some parking tractor-trailers loaded with sunflower seed Tribune. The blockade lasted over six hours PTI via Outlook.
The same day the Punjab and Haryana High Court, in a PIL (Randeep Tanwar v State of Haryana), called NH-44 the "life-line" of the country and ordered it kept open, adding that the administration "shall exercise utmost restraint and would use force to disperse the mob collected at the spot, only as a last resort" LiveLaw The News Minute.
At about 7 pm, when the farmers refused to leave, police used water cannon and then a cane charge. Charuni and leaders including Pankaj Habana, Rakesh Bains and Jasbir Singh Mamumajra were detained, and some activists suffered minor injuries. Traffic was restored by about 7.40 pm Tribune. SP Surinder Singh Bhoria said most detained farmers were released soon after Madhyamam.
Arrests and the FIR
On 7 June a court sent nine people to 14 days' judicial custody: Gurnam Singh Charuni, Rakesh Bains, Jasbir Singh, Jai Ram, Prince, Surjeet, Jarnail Singh, Gulab Singh and Pankaj Habana Tribune. PTI also reported nine; on the night of 6 June the SP had put the number of leaders held at eight Madhyamam.
The FIR, filed on the complaint of the Shahabad SHO, named 23 farmers and about 700 unknown people. It invoked Section 8B of the National Highways Act, IPC Sections 120B, 147, 149, 186, 188, 283, 307 (attempt to murder), 332 and 353, and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act Tribune.
Claim · Police SP Bhoria said: "The farmers tried to run over on-duty policemen by a tractor due to which the charge of attempt to murder was added." Claim · Charuni Charuni said "a false case has been registered by the police on the directions of the government" and that the attempt to murder charge was "wrongly added" Tribune.
Rakesh Tikait, at Shahabad on 7 June, called it "the first lathicharge in the country on those demanding MSP" IANS via NewsGram. Shahabad MLA Ram Karan Kala of the JJP, the BJP's ally, said he would quit as chairman of the Haryana Sugar Federation if MSP procurement was not accepted within 24 hours, according to the same report.
12 June: the Pipli mahapanchayat and second blockade
On Saturday 10 June Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar released Rs 29.13 crore as interim compensation to 8,528 sunflower farmers for 36,414 acres PTI via National Herald. On 11 June he announced a sunflower oil plant in Kurukshetra with a capacity of 20,000 tonnes IANS via Morung Express. Farmers called the relief an attempt to head off the mahapanchayat.
The "MSP dilao, kisan bachao" mahapanchayat met at Pipli grain market on 12 June under Section 144 orders. IANS put the crowd at nearly 50,000; Tikait, khap leaders and wrestler Bajrang Punia spoke IANS via Morung Express. At about 2.30 pm farmers moved onto NH-44. A heavy police force was deployed but no force was used, and police registered a fresh case Tribune. The Tribune later reported a case against about 8,000 protesters, five or six of them by name Tribune.
Farmers slept on a 500-metre stretch of the highway as traffic was diverted PTI via Outlook. In an affidavit to the High Court, the state said talks were on and "other routes are being used as an alternative" National Herald.
Timeline
NH-44 blocked, then cleared by force
Water cannon and cane charge; leaders detained; High Court orders highway kept open Tribune.
Pipli mahapanchayat and blockade
NH-44 blocked again from 2.30 pm; Section 144 imposed Tribune.
Blockade lifted
After a failed four-hour meeting by day, the DC and SP announce a higher rate in the evening Tribune.
Leaders released on bail
Charuni and eight others walk out of Kurukshetra jail Tribune.
Talks and the concession
After a fruitless four-hour meeting on 13 June, that evening DC Shantanu Sharma and SP Bhoria came to the dharna. The DC said "the Haryana Government is offering the best price for sunflower seeds among all states" and that Hafed, which began at Rs 4,800 and moved to Rs 4,900, would buy at Rs 5,000 from the next day, with Rs 1,000 more under Bhavantar. Tribune
That put the total at Rs 6,000 against the Rs 6,400 MSP, The Tribune noted. Tikait, Karam Singh Mathana, Arshpal Charuni and others said their demands had been accepted and lifted the dharna Tribune.
Claim · ANI, farmer leaders ANI reported that the government agreed to pay Rs 6,400, with the option of paying part of it as price-difference compensation, and to withdraw cases against farmer leaders "in due course of time" ANI via Asia News Network. Mathana also said the government had agreed to Rs 6,400 Sentinel. Officials publicly promised only an "appropriate" price PTI via National Herald. On the leaders, the SP said only that "our investigation is going on" Tribune.
On 15 June the CJM's court granted bail to all nine. Their lawyer Gurnam Singh Chahal said: "The police have removed the charges of attempt to murder from the case." The leaders had refused to apply for bail until the procurement demand was met Tribune.
Both accounts
Farmers' account
Charuni said the government cited "the crashing of oil prices" to offer Rs 4,800 plus Rs 1,000, leaving farmers Rs 600 short, and warned that accepting below-MSP purchase for one crop would invite "similar tactics for other crops" Tribune. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala called the action a "merciless lathi-charge" ANI via The News Mill.
Police and government account
SP Bhoria said NH-44 "is an arterial road. Repeated attempts to pacify the farmers proved futile. Mild force was used and there is no report of any serious injury" Tribune. Police told ANI they had asked the protesters to leave "following all the protocols" and would investigate "the people who took the law into their hands" ANI via The News Mill. The clearance came the day the High Court ordered the highway opened.
Government's position Releasing the interim payment, Khattar said some people were spreading confusion that his government did not care for farmers: "I would like to clarify that despite challenges, the Centre or the state government is taking pro-farmer policies." IANS reported that Hafed was buying at Rs 4,850 a quintal in Shahabad, so with the top-up Haryana growers got Rs 5,800, while sunflower sold in Punjab at Rs 3,800 to Rs 4,200 IANS via Morung Express. Khattar invited farmers to talks on 12 June, which they refused National Herald.
Outcome
- Injuries: Minor, per reports; no deaths.
- Arrests: Nine BKU (Charuni) leaders in judicial custody from 7 to 15 June 2023.
- Cases: Shahabad FIR against 23 named and about 700 unnamed; attempt to murder charge dropped before bail, per the defence. A second case over the Pipli blockade.
- Price: Rs 5,000 plus Rs 1,000 Bhavantar, against the Rs 6,400 MSP.
- Procurement record: Hafed lists 36,022 tonnes bought in 2023-24 "on commercial basis at Rs. 4600 to Rs. 4800" plus Rs 1,000 under Bhavantar Hafed.
What happened afterwards
In 2024 Hafed bought sunflower at the full MSP of Rs 6,760. Tribune. BKU (Charuni) then pressed to raise the purchase cap from 8 to 10 quintals an acre Tribune. Hafed records 38,903 tonnes bought in 2024-25, when the MSP was Rs 6,760 Hafed.
In December 2024 the Nayab Singh Saini government notified procurement of 24 crops at MSP; sunflower was on the existing list Tribune. In 2025 the MSP was Rs 7,280 and the union asked for earlier procurement through commission agents Tribune. In May 2026, with the MSP at Rs 7,721, farmers in Ambala were holding back produce to wait for MSP buying from 1 June, and the union sought procurement until "the entire crop is purchased at the MSP" Tribune.
What is still unclear
No report found for this page says whether the Shahabad and Pipli cases were withdrawn, as ANI said the government had promised, or are still before a court. Nor was any report found on whether growers who sold in 2023 later got more than Rs 1,000 a quintal under Bhavantar.
Questions people ask
Why did Haryana farmers protest over sunflower in June 2023?
The MSP was Rs 6,400 a quintal, but the state put sunflower under its Bhavantar Bharpai scheme with Rs 1,000 a quintal of support instead of buying at MSP. With Hafed paying about Rs 4,800, farmers said they were Rs 600 short.
Why was Gurnam Singh Charuni arrested?
He and eight others were booked for blocking the highway, rioting, obstructing public servants and attempt to murder. Police said farmers tried to run a tractor over policemen; Charuni called the case false. They got bail on 15 June after the attempt to murder charge was dropped, according to their lawyer.
Is sunflower bought at MSP in Haryana now?
Yes. Since 2024 Hafed has bought sunflower at the full MSP, which is Rs 7,721 a quintal for 2026-27.
Sources
- Tribune: Don't bring sunflower under Bhavantar scheme: BKU, 31 May 2023
- Tribune: Sunflower farmers seek MSP, threaten to protest on June 6, 3 June 2023
- Tribune: Farmers seeking sunflower MSP cane-charged in Kurukshetra, 6 June 2023
- Tribune: Kurukshetra: NH-44 blocked, farmers cane-charged, 7 June 2023
- ANI via The News Mill: Haryana farmers protest at Delhi-Chandigarh highway, police use water cannons, 6 June 2023
- LiveLaw: High Court directs Haryana to ensure unhindered traffic on NH-44, 6 June 2023
- The News Minute: Chandigarh-Delhi highway lifeline, rules HC, June 2023
- Madhyamam: Sunflower farmers block Highway 44, police resort to lathi-charge, June 2023
- Tribune: Farmer leaders sent to 14-day judicial custody, 8 June 2023
- IANS via NewsGram: Protesting farmers give ultimatum to Haryana govt, 8 June 2023
- IANS via Morung Express: Farmers threaten stir for sunflower procurement on MSP, 12 June 2023
- PTI via National Herald: Farmers gather in Pipli for mahapanchayat, 12 June 2023
- PTI via Outlook: Farmers block Delhi-Haryana highway over MSP for sunflower seeds, 12 June 2023
- Tribune: Farmers block NH-44 again over MSP, Section 144 imposed, 13 June 2023
- PTI via Outlook: Farmers spend night at protest site, 13 June 2023
- National Herald: Farmers keep national highway shut for second day, 13 June 2023
- Tribune: Farmers end protest in Pipli after being assured of fair price, 13 June 2023
- Tribune: Haryana farmers end NH-44 blockade after promise of fair price, 14 June 2023
- PTI via National Herald: Farmers end protest in Pipli after assurance, 13 June 2023
- ANI via Asia News Network: Farmers call off blockade after agreement, 13 June 2023
- Sentinel: Haryana farmers' protest ends; govt meets 2 key demands, June 2023
- Tribune: Charuni, 8 others released on bail, 16 June 2023
- Hafed: Procurement of food grains and oilseeds (official table), accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Tribune: Higher yield, purchase as per MSP bring relief to oilseed farmers, 9 June 2024
- Tribune: Raise sunflower purchase cap: BKU (Charuni), 19 June 2024
- Tribune: Haryana becomes first state to procure all 24 crops at MSP, 24 Dec 2024
- Tribune: Advance procurement of sunflower seed, union urges CM Saini, 24 May 2025
- Tribune: Ambala grain markets see sunflower arrivals ahead of June 1 procurement, 20 May 2026