According to farmer leaders, the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march has been put on ‘standby’ because the central government has proposed a Minimum Support Price (MSP) at the fourth round of talks.
The farmer leaders stated that they will hold discussions on the government’s MSP proposal, and the march will resume ‘peacefully’ on February 21.
“So we will review this proposal with all our colleagues, some agricultural experts, and other legal experts and then we will be able to decide what to do about it. So today we will go and have a similar discussion with our colleagues. As far as our decision to go to Delhi was concerned, it is on standby right now, we have said that today it is the 19th and on the 21st at 11 am, we will move forward peacefully,” Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary, of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee said while speaking to ANI on Monday.
“In the meantime, we would like to make every effort from our side to put our point before the Centre today, its medium can be anything, then in these two days, yesterday the minister also said that there are still some things, so we will also go to Delhi and discuss with them,” the farmer leader said.
Protesting farmers are camped along the Shambhu Border near Ambala.
Tractors, trolleys, and vehicles were observed in significant numbers lining up at the border when the protests were halted.
The government has increased strong security at both the Shambhu and Gazipur borders, with multi-layered barricades preventing angry farmers from entering the national capital.
According to reports, hundreds of farmers, a few journalists, and police officers were hurt during the clash between protestors and security forces.
Earlier, Union Minister Piyush Goyal claimed to have had a very positive and comprehensive discussion with farmer leaders.
“With new ideas and thoughts, we had a positive discussion with the Bhartiya Kisan Mazdoor Union and other farmer leaders. We had a detailed discussion on how to carry forward the work done by PM Modi in the last 10 years,” he said.
Union ministries and farmer leaders had previously met on February 8, 12, and 15, but the meetings had ended without a resolution.
The striking Punjab farmers have made several requests, including an ordinance to ensure legal guarantees for MSPs and loan waivers.
The non-political Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have issued a ‘Delhi Chalo’ plea, pushing the BJP-led Centre to meet their requests.
Farmers from Punjab encountered security forces at the Shambhu and Khanauri border posts, located between Punjab and Haryana, as they began their march to the national capital on February 13.