Farmers-Centre Talks Again Today Amid Push For MSP Ordinance As Protest Enters Day 6: Top Points

A day before the meeting with Union Ministers, farmer leaders requested that the Centre issue an ordinance providing a legal assurance to MSPs.

As the farmer protest at the Shambhu border enters the sixth day, Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal, and Nityanand Rai, along with leaders of farmer unions, will meet on Sunday for the fourth round of negotiations. The two sides previously met on February 8, 12, and 15, however, the discussions were ineffective. On February 13, farmers from Punjab began their march to Delhi, but were halted by security troops at the Shambhu and Khanauri points on Punjab's Haryana border. The demonstrators have remained at the two border crossings since then. Aside from a legal guarantee for MSP, farmers are seeking implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm laborers, agricultural debt waivers, and the dismissal of police charges, among others.

Top Points

1. On Sunday, representatives of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee stated that the government has requested some time to address the issue with federal ministers. "It is our sixth day at the Shambhu border. Today we are also holding fourth round of talks with the government. The government has asked for some time and said that it will discuss the matter with the union ministers and find a solution to it," the committee's general secretary Sarvan Singh Pandher said on Sunday.

2. A day before the meeting, farmer leaders requested that the Centre issue an ordinance providing a legal assurance to MSPs. Farm leader Sarwan Singh Pandher also stated that the entire country is expecting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfill the farmers' requests, and he expressed optimism that the farmers will receive "good news" from the Centre following their meeting on Sunday.

3. Earlier on Saturday, the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) staged a tractor march in Haryana, while the BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) organized dharnas outside the homes of three top BJP leaders in support of farmers demonstrating near the Punjab border over various demands.

4. The Gurnam Singh Charuni-led group, centered in Haryana, held tractor marches in Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, and Sirsa. Later, Charuni told reporters that they totally back the demands made by Punjab's farmers. 

5. The farmer group also protested at 21 toll plazas in 13 districts across the state, expressing solidarity for the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' campaign. The BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) stated that they will resume their protests on Sunday.

6. Highlighting the Modi government's awareness of farmers' grievances, Sunil Jakhar, Punjab BJP president, said on Saturday that ongoing negotiations between farmer leaders and the Centre will undoubtedly result in a "effective" redressal. “I am sure demands and issues raised by our farmers are of very serious nature and their resolution is necessary through understanding and dialogue,” Jakhar was quoted as saying by PTI in its report.

7. Around 100 farmers from various unions were detained at Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur Railway Station while attempting to hold a 'rail roko' demonstration in front of the Cholan Express. The gathering was protesting the police crackdown on the farmers' movement in New Delhi. P R Pandian, Ayyakannu, and Sundaravimalanathan, presidents of several farmers groups, took part in the 'rail roko'. 

8. According to a seller at Ghazipur Mandi, vegetable prices in Delhi might climb if farmer protests disrupt supply networks. According to news agency ANI, a trader reported a Rs 4 spike in carrot prices over the previous 15 days due to supply concerns in Punjab. He expressed fear that more interruptions caused by the continuing protests will result in price increases for other vegetables as well. 

9. Rakesh Tikait, head of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), has declared that farmers will be staging dharnas throughout Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttarakhand on February 21 to stress their demands, which include a legal guarantee of MSP.  

10. In response to the farmers' unrest, the Haryana government on Saturday extended the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts till February 19, PTI reported. The districts impacted include Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa. 

(With Inputs From ANI, PTI)