On day 3 of their Delhi Chalo protest, the farmers are hoping that the third round of talks scheduled on Thursday in Chandigarh will provide a solution to the crisis. The protesters have also announced a 'rail roko' (stop trains) in the state on Thursday evening.
A panel of three Union ministers, including Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, will meet the farmer leaders at 5 pm here over their various demands, including a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
This will be the third round of talks between the two sides: the previous two rounds of dialogue on February 8 and 12 remained inconclusive.
The farmers have also sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in addressing the issues. Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said the Prime Minister has to engage in dialogue with farmers and address their grievances. "It is not a question of going ahead, we are not saying that we will break your barricade. Today there is a meeting with the Union Ministers, and we would like the Prime Minister himself to talk to them. These demands should be resolved today. This will be pleasant for everyone," Pandher told reporters from the Shambhu border.
He also stressed the importance of peaceful protest in a democratic country. "This is a democratic country, we should be allowed to carry out our movement peacefully in Delhi, this path should be opened by the government itself and the agenda will be the same as we have," he added.
The farmer leaders have said they will not make any fresh attempt to move towards the national capital till the meeting is held, asserting that the next course of action will be decided based on the Centre's proposals.
Meanwhile, the situation at the two key border points between Delhi and Haryana remains tense. Both Tikri and Singhu borders remain closed but movement was allowed through the Ghazipur border with Uttar Pradesh under the watch of security personnel.
Traffic has been closed while security personnel in anti-riot gear have been deployed at strategic locations in the national capital.
The protest had turned violent on Wednesday at Shambhu border with intermittent shelling of tear gas by security personnel on Wednesday.
Rail Roko
Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner) have announced 'rail roko' in the state on Thursday. Farmers will squat on rail tracks at seven locations from 12 noon to 4 pm. The decision was taken in protest against the hurling of tear gas shells and water cannons used against the protesting farmers by the Haryana security personnel at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha has also decided to hold protests at toll plazas from 11 am till 2 pm.
