Farmers Protest, Delhi Chalo LIVE Updates: Protesting farmers have been staying put at Shambhu and Khanauri points on Punjab's border with Haryana after their 'Delhi Chalo' march to press the Centre for various demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops, was stopped by security forces which led to clashes last week. Besides a legal guarantee of MSP, the farmers are demanding 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 and "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.
10:18:37 IST
Farmers Protest Live updates: What happened at the fourth round of talks?
- In the fourth round of talks with farmer leaders, a panel of three Union ministers on Feb 18 proposed buying of pulses, maize and cotton crops by government agencies at minimum support prices (MSP) for five years after entering into an agreement with farmers.
- Earlier on Feb 19, Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which spearheaded the 2020-21 stir, rejected the government proposal, saying it seeks to "divert and dilute" the farmers' demand for MSP and they will accept nothing less than the 'C-2 plus 50 per cent' formula for MSP as recommended in the Swaminathan Commission report.
10:06:50 IST
Farmers Protest Live updates: Farmer leaders to march ahead, says Sarwan Singh Pandher
- On the 'Delhi Chalo' march today, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, "We've decided that no farmer, youth will march forward. Leaders will march ahead. We will go peacefully."
- "All this can be ended if they (central govt) make a law on MSP," he added.
10:00:07 IST
Farmers Protest Live: Here’s what agriculture expert Anil Ghanwat said on the protest
- "The three farm laws that were passed (later withdrawn by the Centre in 2021) had no relation to MSP whatsoever, neither was it part of the farmers’ demand during the first agitation (back in 2020-2021).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."
- He added, "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."
09:48:16 IST
Farmers Protest Live: We will continue to move forward peacefully, says farmer leader
- Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on farmers resuming their 'Delhi Chalo' march from Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border said, "Our top leaders will move forward, and the entire world will see us moving ahead peacefully. If the government feels that by killing the farmers their problems will be solved, then it can do so."\
- "But we will continue to move forward peacefully," he added.
09:44:48 IST
Farmers Protest Live updates: Dallewal Calls for Comprehensive MSP Formula
- Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has expressed scepticism regarding the government's intentions, suggesting a lack of seriouness in addressing their demands.
- Dallewal emphasised the necessity for the government to devise a comprehensive formula for MSP covering all 23 crops.
09:35:48 IST
Farmers Protest Live updates: Security ramped up in Delhi
- Heavy security and barricading done at Delhi's Tikri Border in view of farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march.
09:27:08 IST
Farmers Protest Live updates: Haryana govt is steadfastly dedicated to farmers' welfare, says Governor Dattatreya
- Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya on Tuesday said the state government deeply values the hard work of the farmers and is steadfastly dedicated to their welfare.
- Dattatreya said the government is tirelessly working for the all-round, all-encompassing and inclusive development of the state based on education, health, security, self-reliance, self respect, service and good governance.
- Addressing the Haryana Assembly on the first day of the budget session, he said the government has always given top priority to the welfare and upliftment of the poor, farmers, youth and women.
09:19:58 IST
Farmers Protest Live: Farmers' three big demands
- Pandher said the farmers have three big demands -- a legal guarantee on the MSP for all crops, the implementation of the "C2 plus 50 per cent" formula as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission and farm loan waiver.
09:10:50 IST
Farmers Protest Live updates: Will remain peaceful, says farmer leader
- Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar on Tuesday said the farmers are ready to march towards Delhi in a "peaceful" manner from the Shambhu and Khanauri border points.
- He said the farmers have been told to head towards the national capital peacefully. "We will remain peaceful," Kohar said.
09:01:00 IST
Farmers Protest Live: Tight security arrangements are in place at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points
- Tight security arrangements are in place at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points.
= The Haryana Police has urged its Punjab counterpart to seize bulldozers and other earthmoving equipment from the inter-state border, which they say the protesters will use to break the barricades.
- These could pose a threat to the security forces deployed at the border, Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapoor has said in an urgent communication to his Punjab counterpart, Gaurav Yadav.
08:51:35 IST
Farmers Protest Live updates: Farmers at two border points of Punjab-Haryana to resume 'Delhi Chalo' march'
- Farmers protesting at two border points between Punjab and Haryana will resume their "Delhi Chalo" march on Wednesday after they rejected the Centre's proposal for procuring pulses, maize and cotton at the MSP by government agencies for five years.
08:43:16 IST
Farmers Protest Live: Through conversation, a solution will surely come out, says Union Agriculture Minister
- On farmer leaders rejecting the Government's proposal over MSP, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda said, "We want to do good and several opinions can be given for doing so, as we always welcome good opinions."
- "But to find a way on how that opinion will be fruitful, the only way is conversation. Through conversation, a solution will surely come out," he added.