Farmers Resume MSP Talks with Union Minister Amid Ongoing Protests

Talks between protesting farmers and the government on a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) resumed in Chandigarh after a year-long deadlock. Indian Union Food Minister Prahlad Joshi represented the Union govt. and farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal—on a fast since 26 Nov 2024—led a 28-member delegation from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Although the farmers pressed for MSP legalization, debt waivers, pensions for farmers and labourers, withdrawal of police cases, and justice for victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, Joshi deferred the MSP discussion until Indian Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan joins on 22 Feb. Panjab ministers and senior officials, including Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, also attended the meeting. Previous rounds on 8, 12, 15, and 18 Feb 2024 had stalled, as farmers rejected the temporary govt. proposals. Undeterred and barred from marching to Delhi, farmers have camped at Shambhu and Khanauri interstate border points between Panjab and Haryana since 13 Feb 2024. Dallewal and other leaders insist that only legalized MSP, based on recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers, 2007 (Swaminathan Commission) can revitalize agriculture and curb youth emigration. On 14 Feb, farmer representatives again met the Union govt., but talks remained inconclusive. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait held a Mahapanchayat (big gathering) in Sikandrarao town, Hathras, calling for a nationwide MSP movement. He urged farmers not to sell their land and to prepare at least one family member for protests, warning that abolition of mandis (grain markets) would hurt crop prices as seen in Bihar. While the govt. has appealed to Dallewal to end his hunger strike, he remains firm that the agitation will continue until MSP is guaranteed by law.