Centre holds 4th round of talks with farmer leaders


The fourth round of talks between Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda, Nityanand Rai and a delegation of farmer leaders representing the of protesting farmer unions was held in Chandigarh on Sunday evening to further discuss their demands related to the Minimum Support Price, loan waivers and others.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also attended the meeting.

Earlier in the day, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, while speaking to media with regard to the meeting, said that they will go with a positive mindset and put our demands forward in front of the ministers.

Addressing a press conference at Shambhu border earlier on Sunday ahead of the meeting between Union Ministers and farmer leaders in Chandigarh, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dalewal said that solutions can be found by ordinance on MSP guarantee law and a notification on the recommendations of Dr Swaminathan Commission.

The farmers’ protest entered its sixth day at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders where the protesting farmers have been camping since February 13.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, speaking about the fourth meeting, has said that he hopes both parties come out with a solution.

The Delhi CM remarked: “I hope they reach a solution,” on being asked about the meeting of the farmer leaders and the Union Ministers.

The third round of talks largely remained inconclusive as the farmers’ demands were not addressed and asked for a legal guarantee of the MSP.

Protests have been going on as the farmers are staying put at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, while farmers leaders had on Saturday said that they had not stepped back.

On February 16, after the talks, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda had said that the discussions were held in a positive manner.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha(non- political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had given a call “Delhi Chalo,” urging the Central government to fulfill their demands.

After beginning their march on Tuesday towards the national farmers from Punjab were stopped by the security personnel at Punjab- Haryana’s Shambhu and Khanauri border points.