New Delhi: Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that the next round of discussions with protesting farmer leaders will take place on February 22. The announcement came just hours after a meeting between a central delegation, led by Joshi, and farmer representatives was held in Chandigarh on Friday. Both sides described the discussions as cordial and agreed to reconvene on February 22.
Joshi said that the talks with farmer leaders were productive, with both parties presenting their perspectives. “We had a very positive discussion where the farmers put forward their demands. We carefully listened to them and also informed them about the measures taken by the Narendra Modi-led government for their welfare. The next meeting, scheduled for February 22, will be chaired by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan,” he said.
Farmers’ MSP demand
The discussions primarily revolved around the farmers’ key demand for a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops. This comes in the wake of past farmer protests that lasted for over a year. While Joshi highlighted the government’s initiatives for the agricultural sector, farmer leaders claimed they presented data-backed arguments that the Centre’s representatives were unable to counter.
After the meeting, both Joshi and farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal addressed the media separately. The discussions, lasting over two and a half hours, took place at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration.
Protest talks with minister
The meeting included farmer representatives from two groups leading the ongoing agitation at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points. Also present were Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, state Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, and other state government officials. The talks were held amid continued protests by farmers demanding several policy changes, including a legal framework to ensure MSP on crops.
