With the farmers protest entering day seven on Monday, after the fourth round of talks held in Chandigarh with the Union Ministers, the farmer leaders have said that they will hold discussion over the Centre’s proposal amongst their forums, while their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march will be on hold till February 21.
The farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that Centre’s proposal is to buy pulses, maize and cotton crops at MSP for five years.
The farmer unions will discuss the centre’s offer and will further decide upon the course of action, and till then the famers will hold peaceful protests at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders.
Meanwhile, according to reports a 72-year old farmer succumbed to cardiac arrest on Sunday at the Khanauri border.
During talks held on Sunday evening that continued till late night, the central government kept a proposal before the farmer leaders that the like NCCF, NAFED and the Cotton Corporation of India will sign a contract for five years to buy the said crops from them.
The Central ministers panel that consisted of Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai proposed the buying of pulses, maize and cotton crops by government agencies at MSP for a period of five years.
After the meeting on Sunday, Goyal while addressing the reporters said that the talks were held in a positive environment.
Meanwhile, farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni at Kurukshetra in Haryana while speaking to reporters said that there is time till February 21 and also asked the government to also consider oilseeds and Bajra as the two were also important.
He also expressed the likelihood of Haryana farmers also joining the protest if the government does not agree by February 21.
While addressing a press conference, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal raised objection to the tear gas shells used at the borders as they were harmful for those suffering with asthma.
He also said that the government must find a resolution to the famers issues and take note that the number of farmers was increasing at the borders each day.
The farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points of Punjab- Haryana since February 13 when they were stopped from proceeding towards the national capital by the police at the borders.