Karnal, Oct. 3 -- Days after farmers and activists attempted to block NH-44 at Shahabad in Kurukshetra demanding early paddy procurement, senior farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni on Friday lashed out at the government apathy over slow purchase and appealed the farmers to gather at the same spot on October 5.

Earlier on September 22, the police used force to push farmers away from the highway after which they staged a day-long sit-in on a state highway, which was lifted after government's assurance on early purchase.

Usually, the Kharif procurement of paddy and bajra begins on October 1, but on September 28, the Union government approved advancement of purchase by two days to September 29.

However, Charuni said that despite the Centre'...