Farmer Leaders Deliberate Government Proposal on MSP, Decision Expected by Evening

Negotiations Continue Amidst Tensions

In the ongoing saga of the farmers' protest, the fourth round of talks between Union ministers and farmer leaders in Chandigarh on Sunday night unfolded a significant development. The government extended an offer to procure five crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP), marking a crucial juncture in the prolonged standoff. 

Government Proposal and Farmer Response

The proposal put forth by the government encompasses the procurement of three pulses – arhar, tur, and urad – along with cotton and maize, guaranteeing farmers the MSP. However, the offer comes with a condition: a five-year agreement with the National Cooperative Federation of India (NAFED) and Cotton Corporation of India (CCI). This condition has sparked deliberations among farmer leaders, prompting them to seek consensus within their ranks. 

Deliberations and Mourning Amidst the Protest

Against the backdrop of negotiations, the protest movement mourns the loss of two farmers – one succumbing to a heart attack in Sangrur, and another at the Shambhu border in Ambala. These tragic incidents underscore the emotional and physical toll of the prolonged agitation, adding urgency to the deliberations among farmer leaders. Farmer Leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said "As of now, we are going to Khanauri where a farmer died on Sunday while the protest was on. The farmer leaders will visit his village and then we will be back at Shambhu in the evening and announce our decision on the government’s proposal. The central ministers made their opinion public last night. Our leadership will discuss this and announce a decision by Monday evening."

Anticipation Builds for Evening Announcement

Amidst heightened anticipation, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher affirmed that discussions on the government proposal are underway. Farmer representatives convened in Rajpura, Patiala, to deliberate over the offer, with plans to return to Shambhu by evening. Pandher assured that the leadership would announce their decision on the government's proposal by Monday evening, after thorough consideration.

With tensions running high and emotions raw, the farmers' protest enters another critical phase as leaders deliberate over the government's proposal. The outcome of these discussions holds significant implications for the future of the protest and the broader agricultural landscape of India. As the nation awaits the evening announcement, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on the ongoing negotiations and their potential to shape the course of this historic movement.