Punjab’s Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian has called on the Centre to engage in talks with the protesting farmers as soon as possible, highlighting protesting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dal🍒lewal’s deteriorating health.
Expressing concern over the health of Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike since November 26🌺, Khuddian said “Dall🧸ewal’s health is worrisome. The ministry should hold the meeting with protesting farmers at the earliest."
"If their (Centre's) intentions are right then they should hold talks within a day or two,” he told PTI.
This statement came in response to the Central Government’s invitation to Dallewal’s group, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), for talks in Chandigarh on February 14. The government has, however, invited only the two groups that are at the protesting frꦜonts. Other farmer groups, who have also raised their voices in solidarity with൩ the protesting groups, did not receive the invitation to the talk.
On Saturday, a high-level central delegation, led by Union Agriculture Ministry Joint Secretary Priya Ranjan, ꦆmet Dallewal and other representatives of the protesting farmer groups at the Khanauri border.
The government invited the g꧋roups for resumption of talks on February 14, leading to Dallewal agreeing to receive medical aid after months of rejecting it.
Despite the medical intervention, farmer leaders 🤡made it clear that Dallewal would not end his fast until the government offers a binding legal guarantee for MSP ൲for all crops.
121 farmers end fast-unto-death after Dallewal agrees to medical aid
Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the convener of SKM (Non-Political), has been on an indefinite f⭕ast at the Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana since November 26. Despite his deteriorating health, including a significant weight loss of 20 kg, he has remained steadfast in his demand for a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
On January 15, Dallewal’s fast-unto-death gained further attention as a group of 121 f🌼armers, who had been protesting in solidarity with him, joined the hunger strike at the Khanauri border. However, following the announcement of the upcoming talksജ, these farmers ended their strike on Sunday, drinking juice in the presence of local police officials.
Apart from legal guarantee for MSP, farmers are also calling for other keyﷺ reforms, including reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, farm debt waivers, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariffs, and compensation for those affected by the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
The government’s offer of talks on February 14 comes after multiple rounds of negotiations last year failed to yield any resolution. In February 2024, four rounds of talks between the Centr💞e and farmer representatives, including a final attempt on February 18, ended in deadlock. The proposed solution to buy certain crops at MSP for five years was rejected by the farmers.
The rescheduled talks will take place at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration Punjab (MGSIPA) in 🅠Chandigarh and are expected to include participation from both central and Punjab ministers.
