'Delhi Chalo': Farmers To March On Delhi After Inconclusive Talks

Farmers in Chandigarh have decided to go ahead with their Delhi Chalo march on Tuesday after their meeting with Union ministers remained inconclusive. The farmers are demanding a minimum support price guarantee law and other concessions.

Chandigarh: Farmers' organizations in India have announced their decision to proceed with their 'Delhi Chalo' march on Tuesday, February 14, following an inconclusive meeting with two Union ministers over their demands. The meeting, which lasted for over five hours, failed to yield any concrete resolutions, prompting the farmers to resume their protest.

Photo Credit: PTI

Government's Proposal for Committee Formation

Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, along with Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, represented the government in the talks. While Munda expressed optimism about reaching a consensus on most issues, he proposed the formation of a committee to address certain unresolved matters. The ministers suggested a formula to resolve some of the farmers' demands through this committee.

Farmers' Demands and Concerns

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha Non-Political and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, representing the farmers, have reiterated their demands, including the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. They expressed skepticism about the government's sincerity in addressing their concerns and announced their intention to march towards Delhi on Tuesday at 10 am.

Withdrawal of Cases and Legal Guarantee for MSP

Sources close to the meeting revealed that the government agreed to withdraw cases registered against farmers during the 2020-21 agitation. However, the farmers remained adamant about their demand for a legal guarantee for MSP, which has been a key sticking point in the negotiations.

Farmers' Perspective on the Meeting

Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, expressed disappointment with the government's response. He accused the government of lacking seriousness and unwillingness to fulfill the farmers' demands. Pandher emphasized that the farmers' agitation would continue, and they would march towards Delhi as planned.

Government's Openness to Dialogue

Addressing the media, Union Minister Munda reiterated the government's commitment to resolving issues through dialogue. He highlighted the progress made in reaching a consensus on most matters and emphasized the government's readiness to engage in open-minded discussions.

Formation of Committee on Key Issues

Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a leader of the SKM Non-Political, disclosed that the government proposed forming a committee to address the issues of legal guarantee for MSP, debt waiver, and the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations. The farmers' representatives agreed to discuss these proposals within their forum.

Additional Demands of the Farmers

In addition to the legal guarantee for MSP, the farmers have put forth several other demands, including the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm laborers, farm debt waiver, withdrawal of police cases, justice for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act 2013, withdrawal from the World Trade Organization, and compensation for families of farmers who died during the previous agitation.

Punjab Government's Support

Punjab Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, who attended the meeting, expressed the state government's solidarity with the farmers. Senior officials from the Punjab government, including Chief Secretary Anurag Verma and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, were also present during the discussions.

Previous Meeting and Ongoing Protests

The meeting in Chandigarh was the second round of talks between the farmers' representatives and the Union ministers. The first meeting was held on February 8, where detailed discussions took place with the leaders of various farmer organizations. Despite these discussions, the farmers have continued their protests, demanding concrete action from the government to address their concerns.

As the farmers prepare to march towards Delhi, the situation remains tense, with both sides holding firm to their positions. The outcome of the 'Delhi Chalo' march and the government's response will significantly impact the ongoing farmers' agitation and the future of agriculture-related policies in India.