A fresh round of talks between the Centre and protesting farmers concluded on a cautious note, with the next round scheduled for March 19 in Chandigarh.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who led the three-member central team, expressed that the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere, though critical issues related to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantee law remain unresolved.
During the nearly three-hour meeting, which took place at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Public Administration in Chandigarh, the central team sought detailed data from the farmers backing their demand for a legal guarantee for MSP on crops. Farmers, in return, presented facts and figures supporting the need for such a guarantee, which they estimate would require an annual budget of approximately Rs 25,000-30,000 crore.
“The farmers presented their data on crop purchases both in the open market and at MSP levels,” said Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who was present at the meeting. “However, there was a difference of opinion on the data. The central team has requested more clarity on its sources, and the farmers have agreed to share the information within the next few days.”
Farmer leaders, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher, emphasised that a legal guarantee for MSP would address the ongoing struggles faced by farmers, including the sale of crops below MSP rates in various states. “If the government라이브 바카라 policies are genuine, the legal guarantee for MSP can be given with an estimated cost of Rs 25,000-30,000 crore annually,” said Abhimanyu Kohar, a prominent farmer leader. “This will prevent farmer suicides and ensure farmers receive fair prices for their crops.”
The meeting also saw a presentation from the central team regarding various government schemes such as the Bhavantar Yojana and budget allocations for agriculture. However, farmer leaders expressed concerns that these policies do not address the core issues faced by farmers, particularly in relation to MSP and financial stability.
“We explained how a legal guarantee for MSP could benefit not just farmers but the entire economy by increasing purchasing power in markets. The government has not dismissed the possibility of framing a law, but further discussions are needed before taking any major decisions,” Pandher said.
The ongoing protest, which has seen farmers camp at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13 last year, continues to demand not only a legal guarantee for MSP but also debt waivers, pensions for farmers and farm workers, and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
The farmer leaders also reiterated their demands for the reopening of roads at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points. They also requested that the Punjab government pass a resolution in support of their 12 demands during the upcoming Vidhan Sabha session.
As for the possibility of a renewed march to Delhi, Pandher mentioned that a final decision would be made on February 24, depending on the outcome of ongoing consultations. Meanwhile, Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike since November 26, 2024, remains steadfast in his demand for the government to meet the farmers' needs.
(With PTI inputs)
