Farmers Protest: As the tussle between the government and protesting farmers intensified, the Centre on Wednesday invited the farmers for a fifth round of talks on several issues including minimum support price (MSP), crop diversification and stubble issue. This comes after the failure of four rounds of talks over the guarantee on MSP for crops.
Union Minister Arjun Munda took to social media platform X and said, "After the fourth round, the government is ready to discuss all the issues like MSP, crop diversification, stubble issue, FIR in the fifth round. I again invite the farmer leaders for discussion. It is important for us to maintain peace".
Earlier in the day, Munda said that dialogue is the only way to find a solution. He also said that the government always welcomes good opinions and wants to do good.
On farmer leaders rejecting the Government's proposal over MSP, Arjun Munda said, "We want to do good and several opinions can be given for doing so, as we always welcome good opinions... But to find a way on how that opinion will be fruitful, the only way is conversation. Through conversation, a solution will surely come out."
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has ramped up security measures deployed at the city's Tikri, Singhu, and Ghazipur border points and conducted mock drills on Tuesday. Delhi Police officials said security personnel were deployed on Tuesday at the city's three border points to remain on high alert.
The latest round of talks between farmers and the government were held on Sunday when a panel of ministers proposed buying five crops -- moong dal, urad dal, tur dal, maize and cotton -- from farmers at MSP for five years through central agencies.
The proposal from the government was formally rejected by the farmers with Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal saying on Tuesday that it was not in the farmers' interest.