Union ministers and farmers representatives are set to engage in the fourth round of discussions on Sunday regarding their demands, which include loan waiver and the enactment of an ordinance to legally guarantee Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. This meeting occurs amidst the continued presence of thousands of farmers at the Shambhu and Khanauri points of the Punjab-Haryana border, where extensive barricades and security personnel hinder their march towards the national capital. Earlier meetings between the two parties on February 8, 12, and 15 failed to reach a consensus.
Farmers’ Protest 2.0: Here’s a recap of all that happened on Day 5, Saturday
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) organized a tractor march in Haryana on Saturday to show solidarity with protesting farmers, with demonstrations occurring in Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, and Sirsa. Gurnam Singh Charuni, leading the faction, emphasized full support for the demands raised by Punjab’s protesting farmers.
-Over 150 tractors participated in the march in Kurukshetra, with slogans advocating for farmers’ unity and against the government’s policies. Charuni announced plans for a ‘mahapanchayat’ on Sunday in Kurukshetra to strategize further support for the ongoing farmers’ protests. Tractor marches were conducted at various tehsil headquarters across Haryana.
-BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) staged protests outside the residences of political figures in Punjab, including former CM Amarinder Singh and BJP’s Sunil Jakhar, extending support to the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march.
-Demonstrations were also held at 21 toll plazas across 13 districts in Punjab, urging authorities not to charge toll fees from commuters in solidarity with farmers. BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) has also announced plans to continue protests on Sunday, with a meeting of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha scheduled to determine future action.
-On Saturday, the Haryana government extended the prohibition on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts for an additional two days, effective until February 19.
-No incidents of confrontation between protesters and Haryana security forces were reported on Saturday. Farmer leaders have urged protesters to remain peaceful at the border areas. Security measures, including multiple layers of barricades and concrete blocks, have been implemented at Delhi’s borders with Haryana in anticipation of the ongoing protests.
-Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher remarked on Saturday said that the nation is eagerly awaiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response to the farmers’ demands, expressing optimism for positive outcomes following Sunday’s meeting with the Centre. He emphasized that the government holds the authority to make “political” decisions and suggested that enacting an ordinance to guarantee MSP could facilitate further discussions. Pandher urged the Centre to act swiftly, noting that an ordinance could be implemented overnight if desired.
-Representatives of farmer groups, including those from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha who initiated the march, are scheduled to meet Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai at 6 pm on Sunday in Chandigarh, the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana.