Haryana Will Join Protest If Govt Fails To Include Oilseeds, Bajra In MSP By Feb 21: Farmer Leader

The farmers have been camped at the Shambhu border near Ambala since the commencement of the march on February 13, with the fourth round of talks scheduled for today.

Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni issued a stern warning on Monday, stating that if the government does not extend the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) to include oilseeds and Bajra by February 21, Haryana will also join the ongoing agitation. The Centre recently proposed MSP guarantees for pulses, maize, and cotton.

Asserting the importance of addressing the concerns of farmers, Charuni talked about the need for the inclusion of oilseeds and Bajra in the MSP regime. He highlighted the prevalent disparity between market prices and MSP rates, citing mustard's market price, which currently stands at Rs 4200, significantly lower than the MSP.

"We have given the government until February 21 to consider our demands. If our concerns regarding oilseeds and Bajra are not addressed, Haryana will actively join the agitation," Charuni affirmed, as reported by news agency PTI. 

Union Minister Piyush Goyal shared a positive outlook on the discussions with farmer representatives, noting the government's commitment to carrying forward the work initiated by PM Modi over the past decade.

On the other hand, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal acknowledged the government's proposal for MSP on pulses, maize, and cotton, supervised by two government agencies. Dallewal stated that they would consult their forums and experts before making a decision, and the Delhi Chalo march would persist until their demands were met.

"The government's proposal for MSPs on pulses, maize, and cotton, supervised by government agencies, will undergo comprehensive evaluation by our forums and experts," stated SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal after a meeting between protesting farmer unions and Union Ministers in Chandigarh, PTI reported. 

The ongoing talks between the government and protesting farmers revolve around various demands, including legal guarantees for MSPs and loan waivers. Despite multiple rounds of discussions on February 8, 12, and 15, no consensus has been reached. The farmers have been camped at the Shambhu border near Ambala since the commencement of the march on February 13, with the fourth round of talks scheduled for today.