Rice millers in Haryana have temporarily suspended their indefinite strike following an assurance from Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini that he would raise their concerns with Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi.
The millers, who have been demanding acceptance of pending custom-milled rice (CMR) stocks by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) or state procurement agencies, along with clearance of outstanding dues and bank guarantees, agreed to pause their protest after a late-night meeting with the Chief Minister at his residence in Chandigarh.
The 40‑minute meeting was attended by a delegation of millers and Haryana Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan. “We have been assured by the CM to take up our issues with the Union government, so we have temporarily suspended our indefinite strike,” said Saurabh Gupta, president of the Karnal Rice Millers and Dealers Association.
Gupta highlighted that CMR worth nearly ₹2,800 crore remains undelivered across Haryana. While the Directorate of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs has extended the delivery deadline to September 30, 2026, FCI officials have reportedly been restricted from accepting further stocks.