Union Ministers Engage in Third Round of Talks with Protesting Farmers in Chandigarh

Amid ongoing tensions, three Union ministers held a third round of talks with protesting farmer union leaders in Chandigarh. Discussions focused on addressing the farmers demands, including a minimum support price guarantee for crops.

In an ongoing standoff between protesting farmers and security personnel at the Punjab-Haryana border, three Union ministers engaged in a third round of discussions with farmer union leaders in Chandigarh on Thursday. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also participated in the meeting held at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26.

Key Participants and Demands

Representing the Central government, Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai attended the meeting. The farmer unions presented various demands, including a law that guarantees a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. The discussions continued late into the night.

Previous Rounds of Dialogue

This marked the third round of talks between the government and farmer representatives. The previous two rounds held on February 8 and 12 failed to reach a conclusive resolution. Farmer leaders participating in the meeting included SKM Non-Political leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher.

Farmers' Protest and Demands

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha Non-Political and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha issued a "Delhi Chalo" call to pressure the BJP-led Central government into accepting their demands. Farmers from Punjab commenced their march towards the national capital on Tuesday but were intercepted by security personnel at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Delhi and Haryana. The protesting farmers have since remained encamped at these border points.

Rail Roko and Toll Plaza Protests

In response to the Haryana Police's actions against the "Delhi Chalo" protesters, farmers resorted to squatting on railway tracks at various locations in Punjab. The Bharatiya Kisan Union Ekta Ugrahan and the BKU Dakaunda Dhaner called for a "rail roko" protest. This action was taken in protest against the use of tear gas shells and water cannons by Haryana security personnel against the farmers at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points.

Additionally, farmers organized demonstrations at several toll plazas in Punjab under the SKM's call. They protested against the Haryana Police's actions and compelled toll authorities to allow commuters to pass without paying any toll fees.

Farmers' Demands and Previous Agitation

The farmers' demands extend beyond the MSP issue. They also seek the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm laborers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases, justice for the victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation for the families of farmers who lost their lives during the previous agitation in 2020-21.

As the standoff between farmers and security forces continues, the third round of talks between farmer leaders and Union ministers in Chandigarh aimed to find a resolution to the ongoing issues. The outcome of these discussions will determine the future course of action for the protesting farmers and the government's response to their demands.