The Centre will hold a fresh round of talks with protesting farmers in Chandigarh on Saturday evening, seeking to address their demands, including a legal guarantee for the minimum support price (MSP) on crops.
The discussions follow a "positive meeting" last week that left critical issues unresolved.
The meeting will take place at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Public Administration in Chandigarh, despite farmers earlier pressing for it to be held in Delhi.
A formal invitation was extended to farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher by Purna Chandra Kishan, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Letter from the Centre
A letter dated 19 February, sent by the ministry to farmer representatives, stated, "This is in continuation of the previous meeting with the leaders of SKM (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), which was held on February 14 in Chandigarh."
"In this sequence, a meeting with the ministers of the Government of India and the Government of Punjab regarding the demands of farmers' unions has been organised on February 22 at Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Public Administration in Chandigarh. You are cordially invited to the meeting," the letter, written in Hindi, read.
Demands and previous meetings
Protesting farmers have put forth multiple demands, including a legal assurance of MSP, debt waiver, pension schemes for farmers and agricultural labourers, withdrawal of police cases, and 'justice' for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
Also read: Next round of talks between farmers, Centre on Feb 22
Prior to the last meeting held on 14 February, four rounds of talks were conducted between Union ministers and farmer representatives in February 2024. However, all these discussions remained inconclusive.
At the 14 February meeting, a central delegation led by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi engaged with farmer leaders in what was described as a cordial atmosphere.
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal termed it a "positive meeting" and indicated that Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and two other ministers would be present at today's meeting.
However, farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar revealed that central ministers had requested SKM (non-political) and KMM to persuade Jagjit Singh Dallewal to end his hunger strike.
Dallewal, who has been fasting unto death, reportedly refused to end his protest unless a legal framework for MSP was established.
Farmers cite inflation concerns
Addressing reporters following the 14 February meeting, key farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher remarked that Union Minister Pralhad Joshi had highlighted the Narendra Modi-led government's decision to increase MSP by 58 per cent since 2014.
However, Pandher countered this by stating, "We told them that the inflation under their government has increased by 59 per cent... We told them that the government should make a law for MSP. He (Joshi) told us that the government wants to keep holding talks with us."
The latest round of negotiations follows over a year of sustained protests by farmers over MSP, marked by confrontations at key border points such as Shambhu and Khanauri.
Also Read: One year of 'concrete' blockade on national highway but who cares?
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