Punjab farm leaders meet central team in Chandigarh for talks

Punjab farm leaders recently held a crucial meeting with Union ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Piyush Goyal, and Prahlad Joshi in Chandigarh. The discussions focused on resolving long-standing issues, including a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops and other key demands. The meeting comes after several rounds of failed talks earlier this year, with farmers continuing their protest at the Punjab-Haryana border.

Meeting to resolve MSP issue

On Wednesday, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Food and Public Distribution Minister Prahlad Joshi, and Industries and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal met with representatives of 28 farmer unions. These unions are part of the Samyukt Kisan Union (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee. The meeting took place at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Chandigarh.

This meeting followed an earlier round of talks held on February 22, 2025, between the same ministers and farm leaders. Before that, a meeting was held on February 14, but no agreement was reached. Farmers have been demanding a legal guarantee for MSP for their crops, which they argue is necessary to secure stable incomes and prevent exploitation by middlemen and traders.

In the last meeting, the government asked the farmers to provide data to support their demand for a legal MSP guarantee. Farmers have estimated that implementing a legal MSP would require an annual budget of ₹25,000–30,000 crore. The farmers hope that the data provided will help the government make a decision during future discussions.

Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that the farm unions expect the central team to provide a clear and practical solution to their demands. He stated that farmers are ready to cooperate with the government but expect a firm commitment to protecting their financial security through a legal MSP.

Farmers' protests and other demands

Farmers have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, 2024. They began the protest after security forces stopped their planned march to Delhi. Despite several rounds of discussions, no agreement has been reached, leading to frustration among the protestors.

Farmer leader Jagjeet Singh Dallewal has been on an indefinite fast since November 2024, demanding that the government meet their key demands. Apart from a legal guarantee for MSP, the farmers are also seeking:

• A full waiver of farm debts.
• Pension for farmers and farm labourers.
• No increase in electricity tariffs for farmers.
• Withdrawal of police cases filed against farmers during earlier protests.
• Justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence in Uttar Pradesh.
• Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.
• Compensation for families of farmers who died during the 2020-21 protests

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The farmers have been firm on their stand, warning the government that they will intensify the protests if their demands are not met. The ongoing agitation has drawn national attention, with political parties and civil society groups expressing support for the farmers’ cause.

During the meeting, Union Minister Anil Vij stated that the government is open to discussing all issues and finding a balanced solution. However, he emphasized that the government also needs to consider the financial burden of providing a legal MSP.

The protests are rooted in the broader struggle of farmers for fair prices and financial security. Farmers argue that rising production costs and market instability have made it difficult for them to sustain their livelihoods. A legal MSP guarantee, they believe, would provide much-needed stability and protect them from market fluctuations.

The outcome of the ongoing discussions remains uncertain. However, both the farmers and the government have shown a willingness to continue negotiations in the hope of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement. The farmers have stated that they will not call off their protest until their demands are met.