In Chandigarh, three Union ministers convened for a third round of discussions with leaders representing protesting farmer unions on 16th, February 2024, amidst an ongoing standoff between demonstrators and security personnel at two points along the Punjab-Haryana border. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also participated in the meeting held at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26.
The meeting, aimed at addressing the various demands put forth by farmer unions, including the enactment of legislation ensuring a minimum support price (MSP) for crops, was attended by Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, representing the Central government. Discussions extended into the late hours of the night.
This marked the third round of dialogue between the two parties, following inconclusive talks on February 8 and 12.
Notable farmer leaders involved in the meeting included Jagjit Singh Dallewal from SKM (Non-Political) and Sarwan Singh Pandher, the general secretary of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have issued a “Delhi Chalo” call to pressure the BJP-led Centre into accepting their demands.
Although farmers from Punjab initiated their march towards the national capital on Tuesday, their progress was halted by security forces at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Delhi and Haryana. The protesting farmers have since established camps at these border points.
Prior to the meeting with the ministers, farmer leaders declared their intention not to proceed towards Delhi until discussions were held, indicating that their next steps would hinge on the proposals presented by the Centre.
Meanwhile, in protest against the Haryana Police’s actions during the “Delhi Chalo” protests, farmers in Punjab staged sit-ins on railway tracks at various locations, prompting disruptions in rail services. Additionally, farmers demonstrated at several toll plazas in Punjab, compelling toll authorities to allow commuters to pass without charging fees.
On 14th, February 2024, clashes between farmers, primarily from Punjab, and the Haryana Police occurred at two border points, with tear gas and water cannons deployed against the demonstrators attempting to breach barricades en route to the national capital.
In addition to a legal assurance for MSP, the farmers’ demands include the implementation of recommendations from the Swaminathan Commission, pension for farmers and laborers, farm debt forgiveness, withdrawal of police cases, resolution of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, and compensation for families of farmers who died during previous agitations in 2020-21.
