Panel of 3 Union ministers to talk to farmer leaders in Chandigarh
A panel of three Union ministers will hold another round of meetings with protesting farmer leaders in Chandigarh on Thursday amid the ongoing standoff between agitators and security personnel at the Punjab-Haryana border, news agency PTI reported.
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai will meet farmer leaders here at 5 pm over their various demands, including a law guaranteeing minimum support price for crops. ,
This will be the third round of talks between the two sides: the previous two rounds of talks held on 8 and 12 February were inconclusive.
According to PTI report, farmers from Punjab are camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders of Punjab and Haryana in an attempt to march towards Delhi to pressure the Center to accept their demands.
Farmer leaders have said they will not make any fresh attempts to move towards the national capital until the meeting is held, PTI reported, adding that the next course of action will be decided based on the Centre’s proposals.
Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner) have announced ‘rail roko’ in the state on Thursday. According to PTI report, farmers will sit on the railway tracks at seven places from 12 noon to 4 pm.
The decision was taken amid farmers’ protest against the use of tear gas shells and water cannons by Haryana security personnel on protesting farmers at Shambhu and Khanauri borders.
According to PTI report, Samyukt Kisan Morcha has also decided to protest at the toll plaza from 11 am to 2 pm.
Hundreds of farmers are camping at Shambhu and Khanauri borders as part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ call.
Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are leading the ‘Delhi Chalo’ movement to put pressure on the Center for their demands, including a law on MSP, loan waiver and implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations. ,
Haryana Police has sealed the border by putting up barricades to stop the farmers from going to Delhi on their tractor-trolleys.
Tear gas shells were fired intermittently by security personnel on Wednesday at Shambhu border point near Ambala. It was used whenever a group of farmers moved towards the barricades.
During the farmers’ protest, security personnel had to face stone pelting from the protesters.
A similar standoff continued at the Data Singhwala-Khanauri border near Jind district of Haryana.
(With inputs from PTI)