Daijiworld Media Network – Chandigarh

Chandigarh, Feb 23: The latest round of discussions between farmer leaders and a central team led by union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was held in a cordial atmosphere on Saturday. The next round of talks is scheduled for March 19 in Chandigarh.

Union ministers Pralhad Joshi and Piyush Goyal also attended the meeting, which lasted nearly three hours. Chouhan stated that the Centre presented its farmer welfare programmes, a key priority of the Narendra Modi government. Farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher put forth their demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Punjab cabinet ministers Harpal Singh Cheema, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, and Lal Chand Kataruchak were also present.

The farmers, under the banners of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since
February last year, demanding MSP guarantees, debt waivers, pensions, and justice for victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence.