To find a solution to farmers’ agitation over the demand for statutory implementation of minimum support price (MSP), the Center has proposed to buy cotton, maize, turnip, urad and masur directly from MSP farmers without quantitative restrictions for five years. However, the law demanded by the farmers has not been followed and may even force private traders to buy at least at the reference price, if not more. Issuing a video message after the fourth round of talks, farmers’ leader Abhimanyu Kohar said. . ministers proposed to procure those five crops from Nafed, NCCF: n and Cotton Corporation and have no ceiling. However, the government sought more time to fulfill the demands for debt waiver and implementation of the land acquisition scheme.
“We have given them two more days to respond to the two demands and if we don’t hear anything by February. 21 , we will continue our peaceful march to Delhi from the border of Punjab and Haryana,” Kohar said. He also appealed to the farmers to unite at two points of the border of Punjab and Haryana by February 21. Food and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who was part of the ministerial group that held talks with the protesting farmers’ unions, said the farmers’ leaders had informed them that they would discuss the proposal in forums in the next two days and take a decision, the proposal to buy five crops will save Punjab’s agriculture, improve water table and also save the land from stock.
Kohar also said that he will take a decision on the government’s proposal against Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh. Committee. SKM Director (Non-Political) Jagjit Singh Dallewal said the government should not be timid and accede to farmers’ demands before the model code comes into effect. The Centre’s current proposal is part of a scheme launched by Cooperation Minister Amit Shah. in the first week of January when it launched the fur breeders registration portal and announced that the guaranteed purchase scheme would be extended to maize and all pulses (except chana and moong). In addition, Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda and Home Minister Nityanand Rai were also part of the team formed by the Center for the talks of Goyal. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also attended the meeting which started around 8.30 pm on Sunday and ended at 1 am on Monday.
Another farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher (of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee) said, “Our discussion at the forums in February. 19-20 and take expert opinions on the proposals and make a decision accordingly.” On the other hand, SKM (another outfit not associated with the current Delhi march agitation) said on Sunday that it plans to do so. BJP leaders, Residence in Punjab for three days from Tuesday to pressurize Center to agree to demands. SKM will not accept anything less than C-2 plus 50 percent MSP formula, said SKM director Balbir Singh Rajewal.
Farmers demanded the recommendation of the Swaminathan Commission to impose minimum support prices (MSP) with 50 percent of C2 production costs and a law to ensure the purchase of crops from sea land.Other demands include unconditional pension for farmers above 60 years and farmers to be completely debt free.