Farmers' protest: Union ministers and farmer leaders to hold 4th round of talks

Farmers` protest/ PTI

A panel of Union ministers is scheduled to meet with farmer leaders in Chandigarh today for the fourth round of discussions about their demands, which include loan forgiveness and legal guarantees for minimum support prices (MSP) on crops. This conference takes place in the midst of the ongoing 'Delhi Chalo' movement, which has farmers stationed at the Shambhu and Khanauri points on the Punjab-Haryana border.

The earlier talks, held on February 8, 12, and 15, produced no decisive results. In addition to loan forgiveness and MSP pledges, farmers are lobbying for the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, farmer and labourer pensions, and the removal of police investigations.

Despite the enormous number of security personnel and barricades at the border, there have been no reported clashes between demonstrators and officials. Farmer leaders have asked demonstrators to keep the peace along the border.

Farmer representatives from various organisations are scheduled to meet with Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai in the hopes of achieving favourable results. Farmer leaders have emphasised the significance of the government acting quickly, including the prospect of passing ordinances to fulfil the demands.

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According to the PTI report that farmer leaders, including from Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, will be meeting the ministers.

Reportedly, on Saturday, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher had told that entire country was looking to PM Narendra Modi for addressing the farmers' demands and hoped they'd get good news after today's meeting.

"Now the ball is in the government's court. If the government wants a resolution of the farmers' protest, then it should bring an ordinance with an immediate effect that it will enact a law on MSP, the discussion can proceed further. It (Centre) can bring the ordinance overnight if it wants to," Pandher had added.

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is leading the 'Delhi Chalo' march alongside Pandher, has also stated that the government should issue an ordinance for "giving something to the people of the country".

The Haryana government has prolonged the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts for another two days, and farmer organisations continue to hold demonstrations in various areas to rally support for their cause.

Meanwhile, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar and Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur have expressed confidence in the continuing talks and reaffirmed the government's commitment to resolving farmer concerns.