Farmers' leaders have firmly rejected the Union government's proposal regarding buying pulses, maize, and cotton at Minimum Support Price (MSP) by government agencies for the next five years, asserting that it does not serve the interests of farmers. The rejection came after a panel comprising Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda, and Nityanand Rai presented the proposal during the fourth round of talks in Chandigarh.
According to news agency PTI, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a prominent farmer leader from the SKM (Non-Political), stated, "After holding discussion (on the Centre's proposal) in our two forums, it has been decided that the Centre's proposal is not in the interest of farmers and we reject this proposal."
Dallewal elaborated on the reasoning saying, "The reason for not accepting government's proposal (on MSP guarantee) is that they said during the meeting that they will buy all the crops of the country, but at the press conference outside, they said a totally different thing. This means this is some kind of injustice with the farmers. They said that Rs 1.5 lakh crore will be spent to ensure MSP on pulses. But our expert said that this is completely wrong, crops of the entire can be bought for Rs 1.75 lakh crore,. For February 21, we request the government to hold a peaceful protest (march to Delhi)."
“The Centre says something else in the discussions and while speaking at the press conference outside, they say different things. We have not given any proposal. We will move towards Delhi on February 21 at 11 am,” Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher told the media.
Farmer Leaders Request SC To Take Suo Motu Cognisance On Use Of Pellet Guns, Tear Gas By Haryana Police
The farmer leaders also urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu congnisance of police crackdown on the protestors saying, “The way farmers were treated at the (Shambhu) border is condemnable. The main reason for inviting Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann to the meetings was to raise the issue of barricading along the borders, and that people of his state (Punjab) are facing tear gas shelling from neighbouring state. He guaranteed to take notice of the situation, but he hasn’t. He should have put this issue in front of ministers. And today, Haryana DGP in his statement said that we haven’t used pellet guns and tear gas; we request Supreme Court to take suo moto cognisance against those who have done this act.”
Union Minister Piyush Goyal, following the fourth round of talks on Sunday night, outlined the government's plan, stating, "Cooperative societies like the National Cooperative Consumers Federation and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India will enter into a contract with farmers who grow 'tur dal', 'urad dal', 'masoor dal', or maize for buying their crop at MSP for the next five years." He further added, "There will be no limit on the quantity (purchased), and a portal will be developed for this."
Additionally, Goyal proposed that the Cotton Corporation of India would buy cotton from farmers at MSP for five years after entering into a legal agreement with them.
ALSO READ | Centre Proposes Buying Pulses, Maize, Cotton Crops At MSP For 5 Yrs In Talks With Farmers
The ongoing protests by farmers have centered around key demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases, justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.
Protesting farmers have maintained their presence at Shambhu and Khanauri points on Punjab's border with Haryana, following their 'Delhi Chalo' march, which was halted by security forces, leading to clashes last week.
Earlier in the day, the farmer leaders said that the 'Delhi Chalo' march has been put on standby as the Centre has proposed a 5-year plan for MSP during the fourth round of talks. The leaders said they will hold discussions on the proposal and resume the march 'peacefully' on February 21.
Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury slammed the Union government's proposal saying, "Last time when the farmers protested, they had the same demands and the BJP made the same promises. Are they terrorists? They are our citizens. Tear gas, water cannon, barricades, what is all of this?... If they stop farming, what will we do?... Piyush Goyal said that will give MSP on only 5 crops, what will the rest of the farmers do?"