Farmer leaders on Monday turned down the government’s proposal to procure five crops at minimum support prices (MSP) over the next five years. Addressing the media, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a farmer leader, announced the resumption of the ‘Dilli Chalo’ march from the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border on February 21.
The decision, reached after discussions within both agitating organizations, namely the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha, reflects dissatisfaction with the government’s offer. “If you analyze, there is nothing in the government’s proposal. It is not in our favor,” emphasized Dallewal.
The government presented its plan during the fourth round of talks on Sunday in Chandigarh, attended by Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai. Following the meeting, farmer leaders sought time to deliberate on the proposal.
As the stage is now set for a potential confrontation between farmers and security forces, the ‘Dilli Chalo’ march, which began on February 13, will resume its journey after being blocked on the same day at the Shambhu border.
While the farmers have various demands, the focal point remains on MSP. Their immediate call is for a legal guarantee on MSP for all 23 crops, a demand at odds with the government’s inclination to establish a committee.