Chandigarh/New Delhi:The next round of talks is slated to be held between the farmers and the government to conclude the deadlock over the demand for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantee of crops for farmers. The meeting will take place in Chandigarh on Sunday evening; however, the previously held three talks did not gratify any breakthrough.
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A panel of Union ministers began the fourth round of talks with farmer leaders on Sunday evening over their demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reached the venue to join the fourth round talks between Union ministers and farmer leaders.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha will gherao the residences of BJP leaders in Punjab for three days from Tuesday to press the Centre into accepting the farmers' demands including a legal guarantee to minimum support price on crops, a leader of the outfit has said.
Union ministers' panel arrived in Chandigarh to hold fourth round of talks with the farmer leaders. The meeting will be held at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26. Union Ministers Arjun Munda and Piyush Goyal will be present at the meeting.
Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarvan Singh Pandher said today that the government had asked for some more time to hold talks, saying it will discuss the matter with the union ministers and find a solution.
Congress leader and Haryana former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda emphasized the need for the Centre to take a decision regarding the farmers' demand on the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
AAP national convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said that he hopes that both parties (farmers and Centre) will come out with a solution. He said this in response to a query about his position on the fourth round of talks between the farmers and the government.
Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu launched a scathing attack on BJP over farmers’ protest. He said there is no bigger lie than farmers’ MSP and income will be doubled.
The Congress-led UPA dispensation at the Centre took several steps to protect the interest of farmers, including implementing 175 recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission, senior party leader Kumari Selja said on Sunday.
The suspension of internet services has been extended in certain areas of some Punjab districts, including Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib, till February 24 on the orders of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Farmers leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said “Whenever we will go to the meeting, we will go with the hope that the government will listen to us. Sadly, the government is not paying enough attention to those (farmers), who contribute 20 per cent to the country's GDP".
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher ahead of fourth round of talks between government and farmers said, "We have sent them our demands and a detailed discussion has been held on every issue during the three rounds of talks (between government and farmers). They (central government) now need to take a decision. The ball is in their court and the whole country is looking towards them".
The farmer leader further says, "Govt should find solution to our demands before election code of conduct comes into force." (With Agency Inputs)
Ahead of talks with Union ministers, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal says, “Solutions can be found by just issuing one ordinance on MSP guarantee law and one notification on Dr Swaminathan Commission's recommendations." He further includes, "Want to tell govt to avoid policy of dilly-dallying." (With Agency Inputs)
BJP leaderAshok Tanwar says, "There should be no politics over farmers. PM Modi's government has ensured the welfare of the farmers because of the way it has worked for them in the last 10 years... I feel their issue will be resolved soon. We will cross the 400 (seat) mark in 2024 (Lok Sabha) elections because of these farmers." (With Agency Inputs)
The farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, and the withdrawal of police cases.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait announces that farmers will stage dharnas in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttarakhand on February 21.
