The farmer leaders taking part in the 'Delhi Chalo' protest on Monday said they rejected the centre's proposal on buying pulses, maize and cotton at minimum support prices (MSP). While addressing the media, farmer leader Jagjit Singh said that the decision was made after disussing at both forums: the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political).
"After the discussion of both forums, it has been decided that if you analyse, there is nothing in the government's proposal...This is not on the favour of farmers. We reject it," said Jagjit Singh.
In the fourth round of talks with the centre, the panel proposed buying pulses, maize and cotton crops by government agencies at MSP for five years.
Earlier, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that they will discuss the Centre's proposal but will not backout from the demand for a law guaranteeing MSP. SKM had rejected the proposal before formally announcing the decision and said that it will accept anything less than the 'C-2 plus 50 per cent' formula for MSP as recommended in the Swaminathan Commission report, reported PTI.
Among other demands by farmers include the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families who died in the 2020-21 agitation.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai held the fourth round of talks with the farmers.
"Cooperative societies like the NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers Federation) and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) will enter into a contract with those farmers who grow tur dal, urad dal, masoor dal or maize for buying their crop at MSP for next five years," said Goyal after the talks.
Protesting farmers have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri points on the state's border with Haryana since February 13 when their 'Delhi Chalo' march was halted by police.
"If the Modi government is unable to implement the promise made by the BJP, then let the prime minister honestly tell that to the people," said the SKM, which is an umbrella body of various farmer unions.
SKM also condemned the police action against protesting farmers at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points.
SKM leaders also demanded the restoration of mobile internet services in seven districts. The Haryana government on Saturday extended the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts till February 19.
