Peasants’ protest enters 5th day, next round of talks with union govt tomorrow

Farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, continued their protest on the fifth day since they began ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on Tuesday over a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP).

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) said it would further intensify its agitation in the coming days as farmers’ groups, along with trade unions and others, observed ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Friday.

On Saturday, the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) held dharnas outside the residences of three senior BJP leaders in Punjab and even protested at toll plazas in the state.

However, all eyes will be on Sunday, with Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal and Nityanand Rai set to hold a fourth round of talks with farmer leaders to break the impasse.

 

The government representatives will meet farmer leaders on Sunday for a fourth round of talks. The two sides met earlier on February 8, 12 and 15 but those talks remained inconclusive. On Sunday, the government is likely to propose the formation of a committee, comprising government officials and representatives of farmer organisations, to reach a consensus on the demands of the farmers.

The farmer leaders and the government earlier met on February 8, 12 and 15, but no breakthrough was achieved as farmers remained firm on their demand for a Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantee for crops.

A Haryana Police sub-inspector identified as ‘Hira Lal’ who was posted at the Shambhu border in view of the farmers’ protest has died due to worsened health condition today.