The Centre has scheduled a crucial meeting with the protesting farmers of Punjab on February 14 in Chandigarh, as the ongoing standoff between the farmers and the government continues. This announcement comes after a meeting between Union Agriculture Ministry officials and farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for over two months.
A senior official from the Union government confirmed that the high-level delegation, led by Joint Secretary Priya Ranjan, met with Dallewal and other representatives of farmer groups, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. The delegation requested Dallewal, whose health has been rapidly deteriorating due to his prolonged fast, to take medical aid so that he could participate in the upcoming discussions.
“We inquired about his health and urged him to break his fast and receive medical assistance. This will enable him to attend the scheduled meeting and continue the talks,” said Priya Ranjan, who is overseeing the negotiations.
This meeting will be the first since last year when four rounds of talks were held between the Central government and the protesting farmers, but no significant breakthrough was achieved. The farmers have been demanding a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops, a key issue at the heart of the protests.
The protests started at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points, which are located between Punjab and Haryana, after the security forces blocked farmers’ attempts to march to Delhi. Since February 13 of last year, the farmers have been camping at these border points to press for their demands.
Dallewal, who is the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), began his hunger strike on November 26 of last year. His health has worsened, with reports stating that he has lost around 20 kilograms. Despite the grave health concerns, Dallewal has refused medical assistance and has vowed to continue his strike.
On Saturday, 10 more farmers joined the hunger strike, bringing the total number of fasting farmers to 121. The protest leaders have said that the situation is dire, with Dallewal’s health being described as “critical.”
The Centre’s meeting with the farmers in Chandigarh will hopefully provide a resolution to the months-long stand-off. The government’s proposal is expected to be discussed by the farmer groups in the coming days.
The ongoing protests and fasts are a testament to the farmers’ resolve in their struggle for a legal guarantee for MSP, which remains a central issue of contention between the farmers and the government.
Sources By Agencies