Farmers Protest Day 6 Highlights: Farmers reject govt proposal, 'Delhi Chalo' to resume Feb 21

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“The way farmers were treated at the (Shambhu) border is condemnable. The main reason for inviting Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann to the meetings was to raise the issue of barricading along the borders, and that people of his state (Punjab) are facing tear gas shelling from neighbouring state. He guaranteed to take notice of the situation, but he hasn’t. He should have put this issue in front of ministers. And today, Haryana DGP in his statement said that we haven’t used pellet guns and tear gas; we request Supreme Court to take suo moto cognisance against those who have done this act.”

"...After the discussion of both forums, it has been decided that if you analyse, there is nothing in the government's proposal...This is not on the favour of farmers. We reject it."

Farmer leaders taking part in the 'Delhi Chalo' agitation on Monday said they will discuss the government proposal on buying pulses, maize and cotton at MSP but the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which spearheaded the 2020-21 stir, rejected the offer.

“The Centre says something else in the discussions and while speaking at the press conference outside, they say different things. We have not given any proposal. We will move towards Delhi on February 21 at 11 am,” Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher says

Protesting women farmers at the Khanauri border have warned that they will cross into Delhi if the demands of the farmers are not fulfilled by February 21.

“Today, we lost our second brother. These (tear gas) shells are hazardous for those who are suffering from asthma, and people are dying. The number of farmers is increasing at the borders each day and the government should take note of this, and find a resolution to our issues,” says SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

“There is a curfew-like situation in Haryana, and the unfortunate thing is that Haryana DGP says that they have not resorted to force anywhere, nor used tear gas shells. However, everyone knows how people (farmers) were targeted on the border for three days. It seems like DGP is less an officer and more a representative of a political party,” says SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal in a press conference.

“The three farm laws that were passed (later withdrawn by the Centre in 2021) had no relation to MSP whatsoever, neither was it part of the farmers’ demand during the first agitation (back in 2020-2021). It all came at a later stage. After the demand for MSP was raised, our committee (panel set up by the Supreme Court to study three farm laws) said that it is unimplementable for the government to give MSP on every crop.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reiterated his government's commitment to support farmers in exploring new avenues in agriculture.

Addressing an event in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, the prime minister emphasized the importance of working towards a common goal of having Indian food products on dining tables across the globe.

His remarks came amid a protest by a section of farmers over their various demands such as a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops.

Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Charuni says, “There is time until 21st February. The government should think and understand that these two things (oilseeds and bajra) are very important (for procurement). Just like they mentioned pulses, maize, and cotton, they should include these two crops too. If these two are not included, we will have to think about it again...Yesterday, we decided that if the government doesn't agree by 21st February, Haryana too will join the agitation.”

The Centre's proposal of buying pulses, maize and cotton by government agencies at MSP will be discussed by farmers, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said on Monday but asserted that they will not back out of their demand for a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops.

His remarks came after a meeting between farmer leaders and a panel of three Union ministers on Sunday and amid thousands of protesting farmers camping at the Punjab-Haryana border as part of their 'Delhi Chalo' march. Talking to reporters at the Shambhu border point, Pandher said farmers will discuss the proposal given by the Centre.

Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has said that cooperative societies like the National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) will enter into a contract with farmers who grow 'tur dal', 'urad dal', 'masoor dal' or maize for buying their crop at MSP for next five years.

"There will be no limit on the quantity (purchased) and a portal will be developed for this," he added.

This, he said, will save Punjab's farming, improve the groundwater table, and save the land from getting barren which is already under stress.

Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury said, "Last time when the farmers protested, they had the same demands and the BJP made the same promises. Are they terrorists? They are our citizens. Tear gas, water cannon, barricades, what is all of this?... If they stop farming, what will we do?... Piyush Goyal said that they will give MSP on only 5 crops, what will the rest of the farmers do?..."

The Centre puts forward 5-year plan at round 4 talks: What's next? Click here to Read Here to read our piece

Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur has denied using pellet guns against the protesting farmers to stop them from making their way to Delhi, according to a report in The Hindi. Kapur says the police are using “minimum force”, the report added. There have been multiple reports that farmers have been admitted to hospitals because of injuries they faced during police action. Farmers have told another news outlet, The Wire, that the injuries were caused by pellet guns and tear gas shells.

When asked about the use of pellet guns against protesters, Kapur is quoted as saying, “No, the SOP being followed by the police is to first use tear gas, then water cannons, cane charge and lastly rubber bullets are fired from a distance of 50-60 yards. The rubber bullets are not aimed directly at the mob, they are pointed to the ground which ricochet and then hit the target. We do not want to injure the people.”

The ban on mobile internet in several areas in Haryana is set to end today, February 19, as per the official statement by the authorities.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha will hold protests in front of the houses of NDA MPs on February 21 to ensure their demands are fulfilled.

Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “We will discuss the proposals offered by the government with agriculture and legal experts besides farmers, and then take a call on it, and convey our decision to the Centre. As far as our Delhi march is concerned, we have put it on standby for now. On February 21, however, we will peacefully start our march. We will try that before we put our points before the government and discuss some remaining issues.”

The two sides — Ministers and farmer leaders — had met earlier on February 8, 12, and 15 but talks remained inconclusive. Union Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai had met the farmers on Sunday for the fourth round, with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also in attendance.

“We hope farmers will come with a positive reply by Monday. The next round of meeting could be then held. I urge farmers to call off their protest,” said Mr. Goyal after the meeting that ended late Sunday night.

Read our summary of the Centre's 5-year plan to purchase Maiza and pulses from the farmers at MSP. Click Here

The farmers from Punjab began their march to Delhi on Tuesday to press the Centre to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP on crops. In addition to the MSP demand, the farmers also want the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases. 'justice' for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.

CM Mann also said Punjab farmers can adopt cotton and maize only if they get a guarantee for MSP on these crops by the Centre, and stressed that the assured marketing of these crops can encourage the farmers to diversify their crops. Mann said he participated in the meeting as an advocate of the farmers and the final decision has to be taken by the stakeholders. He said peace and law and order must be maintained by all means during the protest.

Meanwhile, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann batted for a legal of MSP for crops to safeguard the interests of the farmers. Mann said he raised the issue of the import of pulses from Mozambique and Columbia during the meeting. This import is more than $2 billion, Mann said, adding that if MSP is given for this crop then Punjab can lead the country in the production of pulses and it will be a second green revolution.

Goyal underlined that the other demands of the farmers were "deep and policy-driven" and it was not possible to find a resolution without an in-depth discussion. "Elections are coming and a new government will be formed; discussions on such issues will continue," he said.

Talking about the steps taken by the Narendra Modi government regarding the farm sector, Goyal said from 2014 to 2024, the government procured crops worth Rs 18 lakh crore at MSP while between 2004 and 2014, crops worth only Rs 5.50 lakh crore were procured at the assured price. On the possibility of another meeting with the farmers, Goyal said if they take a decision on Monday, the government will proceed to hold discussions on the same lines as he urged the farmers to call off their protest.

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said discussions on issues like a law on MSP, the Swaminathan Commission recommendations and loan waivers were held.
On the Centre's proposal, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, "We will discuss in our forums on February 19-20 and take the opinion of experts regarding it and accordingly take a decision." A discussion on loan waivers and other demands is pending and we hope that these will be resolved in the next two days, Pandher said, adding that the Delhi Chalo march is currently on hold, but will resume at 11 am on February 21 if all the issues are not resolved.

Regarding the quantity of crops the government agencies will purchase at MSP, Goyal was quoted as saying, "There will be no limit on the quantity (purchased) and a portal will be developed for this." The Union Minister says the government's proposal will save Punjab's farming, improve the groundwater table, and save the land from getting barren which is already under stress. The farmers pointed out that they want to diversify into maize crops but want to avoid suffering losses when the prices drop below the MSP, the minister added.

Speaking to the media after a more than four-hour long meeting which commenced at 8.15 pm, Goyal said the innovative and out-of-the-box idea came up during the discussions and the farmer leaders would decide on the government's proposal by Monday morning. "Cooperative societies like the NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers Federation) and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) will enter into a contract with those farmers who grow 'tur dal', 'urad dal', 'masoor dal or maize for buying their crop at MSP for next five years," Goyal was quoted as saying by PTI.

Goyal, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, along with Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai held the fourth round of talks with farmer leaders here on Sunday evening over their demands, including a legal MSP guarantee, as thousands of protesting farmers were camping at the Punjab-Haryana border. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also joined the meeting.

According to a PTI report, a panel of three Union ministers on Sunday proposed the purchase of pulses, maize, and cotton crops by government agencies at minimum support prices for five years after entering into an agreement with farmers, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said. The farmer leaders then decided to pause the agitation as they will discuss the government's proposal in their forums over the next two days and thereafter, decide the future course of action.

The Centre held the fourth round of talks with leaders of farmers' unions on Sunday, February 18, to end the ongoing 'Delhi Chalo' agitation at the Punjab-Haryana borders. The previous round of talks largely remained inconclusive as they failed to address the farmers' demands for a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP) of their crops.