Farmers’ leaders on Monday evening rejected the Centre’s proposal to purchase five crops at minimum support price (MSP) over the next five years and announced that they will resume their ‘Dilli Chalo’ march to the national capital from the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border on February 21.
Farmers Rejected Government Plans at MSP
Addressing the media to inform them about the cultivators’ decision, farmer leader Jagjit Singh said that the decision was made after being discussed at both the forums, alluding to the two organisations participating in the agitation: the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political).
Government Presented Its Plan Yo Farmers
The government presented its plan to farmer leaders during a meeting on Sunday, the fourth round of talks between the two sides on the issue. After the meeting, held in Chandigarh, which also hosted the first three rounds on February 8, 12, and 15, the farmer leaders sought time to discuss the Centre’s proposal.
March Will Resume From February 21
Now, however, the stage is set for a likely confrontation between the peasants and security forces. The march to Delhi began on February 13 but was stopped the very same day on the Shambhu border, where the agitators have stationed themselves since the crackdown.
While the farmers have several demands, the primary one is on the MSP. While they want an immediate legal guarantee for MSP on all 23 crops, the Centre is inclined towards setting up a committee.