Farmers stick to protest rally as talks with ministers fail, Delhi goes under security tightrope

Stringent security measures are in place at Delhi’s borders and across the national capital in anticipation of the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest.

After a five-hour negotiation with two Union ministers fell through, farmers have geared up for their planned protest march to Delhi on February 13, seeking a law to guarantee the minimum support price for their produce.

The National Capital went under a thick security blanket since a day ahead of the 'Delhi Chalo' rally. Farmers from Punjab's Sangrur will lead the way in 2,500 tractor trolleys through Haryana to Delhi from 10am on February 13.

The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, which has the allegiance of more than 250 farmer unions, and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a platform of another 150 unions, called the protest jointly in December.

The government view

Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda who, along with Food and Consumer Minister Piyush Goyal, attended the second round of talks with farmer leaders, said a consensus was reached on most issues and a formula was proposed for resolving some other through formation of a committee. "We are still hopeful that farmer bodies will hold talks.... We will try to resolve issues in the coming days," Munda said.

Also Read: Farmers' march for price guarantee: Factors behind the agitation in Delhi

Why the talks were inconclusive?

According to the farmer groups, the talks were inconclusive because there was no consensus on the three key demands - enactment of a law to guarantee a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops, farmer loan waiver and the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations.

Minor consensus

After 11pm on February 12, the two sides came to an agreement on repealing the Electricity Act 2020, compensation to farmers killed in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, and the withdrawal of cases against farmers filed during the farmers' movement in 2021.