New Delhi. Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda on Tuesday said that the law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) for crops cannot be brought in haste without consulting all stakeholders. He also urged the protesting farmer groups to have constructive discussions with the government on this issue.
Munda, in an interview with PTI, cautioned the protesting farmers to be ‘aware and alert’ about some elements who may malign their protests for political gains.
Munda is part of the ministerial delegation that held two rounds of discussions with various farmer groups, including Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), Kisan Mazdoor Morcha in Chandigarh to resolve the concerns of farmers.
However, as the talks remained inconclusive, farmer groups started their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on Tuesday. Munda said, “In the two rounds of discussions, we agreed to many of their demands. But consensus could not be reached on some issues. “Talks are still ongoing.”
Many farmer unions had called for protests on February 13 demanding a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Most of the unions in this march of farmers are from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. Apart from legal guarantee for MSP, farmers are demanding implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations for farmers’ welfare, pension for farmers and farm laborers and loan waiver among others.
The farmers are also demanding withdrawal of police cases and ‘justice’ for the victims of Lakhimpur Kheri violence, restoration of the Land Acquisition Act 2013, withdrawal from the World Trade Organization and compensation to the families of farmers killed during the previous agitation. . Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have announced that more than 200 agricultural unions will march to Delhi.
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Tags: Arjun munda, Farmers Protest, Farmer Movement
FIRST PUBLISHED: February 13, 2024, 22:14 IST