Farmers & Govt Hold Talks on MSP; Next Meeting on 19 Mar

On 22 Feb, Indian Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan confirmed that a second meeting with Panjab farmers regarding their long-pending demands, including a legal guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP), was held in a cordial atmosphere. The next round is scheduled in Chandigarh on 19 Mar. The talks resumed after a year-long deadlock, featuring a 28-member farmers’ delegation and Union ministers Pralhad Joshi and Piyush Goyal, alongside Panjab Cabinet ministers Harpal Singh Cheema, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, and Lal Chand Kataruchak. Key farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border since 26 Nov 2024, and Sarwan Singh Pandher presented the demands: debt waivers, pensions for farmers and labourers, withdrawal of police cases, compensation for victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, and reversion to the Land Acquisition Act of 2013. At a preceding meeting on 14 Feb, the Union government team stated it is open to further talks and urged Dallewal to end his fast, emphasizing that the Modi govt. is committed to farmers’ welfare. Farmer unions Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha reaffirmed their stance on MSP, insisting on a legal guarantee that ensures 100% govt. procurement under the Swaminathan Formula (C2+50%). They criticized any proposal for only partial or 25-30% procurement, arguing that such a compromise would ultimately favor corporations. The farmers have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri interstate border between Panjab and Haryana since 13 Feb 2024, and repeatedly prevented by security forces from marching to Delhi. Farmer leaders have signaled that without concrete progress on MSP and other core issues, they may again attempt to head for Delhi on 25 Mar and urged the Panjab Cabinet to pass a resolution in the ongoing Panjab Assembly session in favor of the Farmers Protest 2.0.