Farmers from Punjab and Haryana have joined their Uttar Pradesh counterparts in organizing marches toward Delhi. Agitating farmers are demanding a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) on agricultural products. The escalating protests have led to tense border situations and injuries among farmers.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed the MSP issue in the Rajya Sabha, assuring that the government is committed to ensuring MSP for all agricultural products.
“Our government will ensure that all agricultural products are purchased at the Minimum Support Price. This is the guarantee of the Modi government,” he stated.
Chouhan highlighted the policy implemented in 2019, which calculates MSP by adding a 50% profit margin over the production cost. His remarks came during the Question Hour amid mounting pressure from protesting farmers seeking clarity on MSP policies.
Earlier, farmers marching from Punjab faced police resistance at the Shambhu border, where authorities used tear gas to disperse the crowd. The confrontation resulted in injuries to six farmers, prompting a temporary pause in their march toward Delhi.
Sarwan Singh Pandher, a prominent farmer leader, condemned the police action while emphasizing the need for peaceful protests. “We are citizens of this country, not of any enemy nation. We appeal to the government to treat us with respect and allow us to march peacefully,” he said.
Pandher clarified that while the march was paused, the movement remains active. “We have withdrawn today’s group to prioritize the injured. The next group will move forward after discussions with the government,” he added.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Bhagirath Chaudhary reiterated the government’s willingness to engage in talks. “Farmers should come and talk. The doors are always open for them. If they call us, we are also ready to go,” he stated, emphasizing dialogue as the preferred solution.
Pandher acknowledged the government’s offer and confirmed a temporary pause in the march to facilitate discussions. “We have given the government until Saturday to respond. We hope for constructive talks to address our demands,” he said.
The farmer protests have intensified as demonstrators from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh rally together for legal guarantees on MSP. Despite previous government assurances, tensions persist as farmers demand stronger policies to secure their livelihoods.
The coming days will be critical in determining whether dialogue can resolve the ongoing stalemate. Both the government and farmers appear poised for further negotiations, with the protests serving as a reminder of the agricultural community’s pressing concerns.
