Synopsis
The Indian government will hold a fresh meeting with protesting farmers in Chandigarh to discuss demands like a legal MSP guarantee. This follows a constructive meeting last week, amidst ongoing protests demanding better agricultural policies.Key Takeaways
- Centre to meet protesting farmers in Chandigarh.
- Discussion on legal MSP guarantee and other demands.
- Previous meeting described as constructive.
- Protests continue until MSP law is established.
- Inflation concerns raised by farmers during talks.
New Delhi, Feb 22 (NationPress) Following a constructive meeting last week, the Centre is prepared to engage in a new round of discussions with the protesting farmers in Chandigarh this Saturday evening. The objective is to address several of their requests, including a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) on crops.
The farmers had previously requested that the next meeting take place in Delhi; however, the Centre opted for the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Public Administration in Chandigarh.
A letter inviting farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher was dispatched by Purna Chandra Kishan, joint secretary at the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Date-stamped February 19, the letter stated, "This is in continuation of the earlier meeting with the leaders of SKM (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) held on February 14 in Chandigarh."
"In this context, a meeting with Ministers from the Government of India and the Punjab government to discuss the farmers' unions' demands is scheduled for February 22 at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Public Administration in Chandigarh. You are warmly invited to join the meeting..." the letter further noted.
The central government and the protesting farmers have conducted numerous discussions regarding the latter's requests for a legal guarantee for MSP on crops, debt relief, pension for farmers and farm laborers, the dismissal of police cases, and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri incident.
Before the February 14 meeting, there had been four rounds of discussions between Union Ministers and farmers in February 2024, but these talks were unproductive.
During the February 14 meeting, a central team led by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi met with representatives of the farmers in Chandigarh, with both parties noting that the dialogue took place in a friendly atmosphere.
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal referred to it as a constructive meeting.
He also announced that Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and two other Ministers would be attending the upcoming meeting on February 22.
Nonetheless, Dallewal, who is on a hunger strike, reiterated to the authorities that farmers will persist with their protests until a law is enacted for MSP.
Key farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher informed reporters that at the February 14 meeting, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi mentioned that the Narendra Modi-led government has raised MSP by 58 percent since 2014.
"However, we pointed out that inflation under their regime has surged by 59 percent. We insisted that the government must establish a law for MSP. He (Joshi) assured us that the government is eager to continue discussions with us," Pandher added.
The meeting last week was held after a year-long protest by farmers centered around their demand for MSP, during which many tumultuous events occurred at the Shambhu, Khanauri, and other border points connected to Delhi.
