Amid the ongoing deadlock between leaders of protesting farmers and the Union government, the fourth round of discussions concluded late Sunday night. Following the meeting, Sarwan Singh Pandher, the general secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, announced that the farmers have suspended their Delhi Chalo march in light of the Centres proposals.#WATCH | Chandigarh: Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal says, ...We will discuss the proposal by the govt (on MSP) with our forums and experts and then, we will come to a conclusion...Our march (Delhi Chalo) will continue till the demands are met...Talks on several other… pic.twitter.com/d5z1qUfQDl— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2024Speaking to media persons, Pandher said, We will discuss proposals given by Centre with fellow farmers, take opinions of experts We will discuss on this (governments proposal) over the next two days and the government will also deliberate.#WATCH | Chandigarh: General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Sarvan Singh Pandher says, ...We will have discussions on the proposal by the govt in the next two days...The govt will also deliberate on the other demands...We will continue with the Delhi… pic.twitter.com/uHXlrQywR8— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2024We hope for a positive result, else we will continue with our Delhi Chalo march, Pandher added. The meeting was attended by Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann which commenced at 8:15 PM on Sunday and concluded around 1 AM on Monday at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Chandigarh.#WATCH | Chandigarh: General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Sarvan Singh Pandher says, ...We will have a discussion on the proposal by the govt and take opinions on it...The decision will be taken by today morning, evening or the day after...The ministers… pic.twitter.com/9BCm8efWln— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2024What are governments proposalsThe panel of Union ministers proposed a comprehensive five-year plan for the procurement of pulses, maize, and cotton crops at minimum support prices (MSP) by government agencies. Minister Piyush Goyal said, Cooperative societies like the NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers Federation) and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) will enter into a contract with those farmers who grow tur dal, urad dal, masoor dal, or maize for buying their crop at MSP for the next five years.#WATCH | Chandigarh: Union Minister Piyush Goyal says, The farmers union will tell us their decision by morning. We will also have discussions with NCCF and NAFED after returning to Delhi... pic.twitter.com/rSzqom0bMq— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2024He further assured that there will be no restrictions on the quantity purchased, and a dedicated portal will be established to streamline the process.Goyal emphasized the multiple benefits of the proposed plan, stating, It will save Punjabs farming, improve the groundwater table, and save the land from getting barren which is already under stress. Moreover, the Centre proposed that the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) would procure cotton from farmers at MSP for the next five years through legal agreements.#WATCH | Chandigarh: Union Minister Piyush Goyal says, ...The Cotton Corporation of India will enter a 5-year legal agreement with farmers to buy the crop at MSP... pic.twitter.com/8tWRptrZE8— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2024Farmers demandsThe ongoing protests were led by more than 200 farmers unions including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. They have been demanding a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) along with other reforms.These demands include the implementation of the Swaminathan Commissions recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm laborers, and farm debt waiver. The farmers agitation, which commenced on February 13 with the Delhi Chalo march, has seen sustained demonstrations at the Punjab-Haryana border points of Shambhu and Khanauri.
