Punjab: 'Key Farmer-Centre Talks ‘Positive,’ Next Round On Feb 22,' Says Union Minister Pralhad Joshi

Chandigarh: The crucial meeting between the farm leaders and the Centre to discuss the former’s demands including minimum support price (MSP) and debt waiver, which began here Friday evening were said to have been held in cordial atmosphere and the same have been deferred to February 22 for further discussion.

While the Union minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution, Pralhad Joshi led the Central team, the two main farmer unions – Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) – were led by their leaders namely Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

Dallewal had reached the meeting venue in an ambulance from Khanauri border where he had been on fast-unto-death since November-end. Other than the two farm leaders, 26 other farm leaders also participated in the meeting.

Addressing newspersons after the meeting - which went on for about two-and half-an-hour - Joshi said that the meeting with the farmer leaders was held in a cordial atmosphere and it was decided to hold another round of talks for further discussion on their demands on February 22. This meeting is expected to be chaired by the Union Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

It may be recalled it is after more than a year that the talks between the farm leaders and the Central representatives have been resumed on the former’s demands as the same remained inconclusive last year following which a score of farmers continued to camp and protest at the two borders of Punjab and Haryana – Shumbhu and Khanauri borders, threatening to take their ``Delhi chalo’’ protest to press for their demands.

The farmers also made three attempts to take out protest foot marches on December 6, 8 and 14 last year, though the same were foiled by Haryana police and Central forces by raining teargas shells leaving about 50 farmers injured. According to farm leaders at least 60 farmers had died on the two protest sites since February last year. Also farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has also been on fast-unto-death since November-end.

For the record, the farmers' demands include legal guarantee for MSP, debt waiver, Swaminathan commission report implementation, a pension scheme for farmers and labourers, cancellation of police cases against farmers during 2020-2021 protests and compensation and job to kin of farmers who have died during the protest.