SKM Likely To Call Off Farmers' Protest Today, Assurance On MSP & Other Demands Met By Centre

A five-member panel accepted the second draft proposal from the Union Government which included assurance on MSP and withdrawal of police cases registered against the farmers in various states. 

Representational Image | PTI

New Delhi: Following the 14-month long agitation by the farmers led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), it was announced that the protest will likely be called off on Thursday after a meeting at noon today.  

The decision to call off the protest was taken by a five-member panel after they accepted the second draft proposal from the Union Government.

The second draft proposal included assurance on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and withdrawal of police cases registered against the farmers in various states. 

One of the members of the committee which held talks with the government, Ashok Dhawle said that they received a revised draft proposal from the government which accepted the demands of the government. 

“We will get the final copy of the draft proposal at 12 pm on Thursday. After holding a meeting of SKM leaders at Singhu, we will formally take a call on reducing the intensity of protests,” Dhawle said. 

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 The Centre has also agreed to take back cases registered against farmers for stubble burning. It has also agreed to table the Electricity Amendment Bill and compensate the kin of farmers who lost their lives during the protest with Rs 5 lakh and a job. 

“The consensus was reached after the government agreed to take back all cases registered during the farm agitation and for stubble burning. The government also assured us that it will table the Electricity Amendment Bill. The Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments have also agreed to give compensation of  Rs 5 lakh and a job to the kin of deceased farmers on the Punjab government’s lines. Moreover, the government also agreed to our demands to include only SKM leaders in the MSP committee, apart from officials from state, centre and agricultural experts,” said one of the members of the committee.