Farmer protest latest news: After farmer protest Noida and farmer protest Gurgaon, On the Punjab-Haryana border, where farmers are preparing for a march on Delhi and demanding legal support for MSP, tear gas shells have been shot. To prevent another cycle of the violent protests that occurred in 2020–2021—the government has called for a fifth round of discussions.
Here is what happened in brief
Arjun Munda, the minister of agriculture, has demanded more negotiations. “The government is prepared to talk about all matters, including MSP (minimum support price), after the fourth round. I’d like to talk with all the farmer leaders.” Farmers have also been urged by Mr. Munda to ensure a peaceful protest; he told Media that “unruly elements are looking to hijack talks”
The government offered to buy maize, cotton, and three different types of pulses—toor, urad, and masoor—at the old MSP, but farmer representatives turned it down on Monday night. They disregarded people farming the other eighteen crops and claimed it was illogical because it only pertained to a select number.
The price, according to the farmers, would be “subsistence” payments rather than “income” because it would be based on the A2+FL+50% formula (MSP at 1.5 times direct costs, such as seeds and fertilisers, and unpaid family labour), rather than the C2+50% formula of the Swaminathan Commission (which includes rent for farm land or the rental value of owned land).
They objected to a section that stated that MSP would only be available to people who choose crop diversification, which meant they had to plant crops that the government had approved in order to receive the support price. “We have, thus, decided to reject the proposal…”
About a lakh farmers have decamped to Shambhu on the Punjab-Haryana border, where they have been since last week while negotiators attempt to reach an agreement to prevent a recurrence of the violent protests that occurred in 2020–2021. That doesn’t seem likely anymore.
Approximately 200 km of fortified highways, complete with concrete barricades, barbed wire fences, and nail strips to prevent tractors from driving past, separate them from Delhi. The image provided by drone footage is shocking and resembles preparations for a potential “invasion” of the city.
The area surrounding Delhi has been more heavily guarded, with rows of cement and metal barriers blocking important border crossings at Ghazipur, Tikri, Noida, and Singhu. A month-long prohibition on public gatherings has also been enforced by Delhi Police under Section 144.
According to the farmers, their march will be nonviolent. One farmer told NDTV, “We want to appeal to the government not to use force against us.” But they have food and supplies for six months, so they are here for the long run.
In addition to obtaining a formal guarantee and recalculating MSPs, the farmers demand the cancellation of agricultural loans, an end to power rate increases, and the dismissal of 2020–21 police cases.
In addition, they want farmers over 60 to get a ₹ 10,000 monthly annuity and a public sector crop insurance programme. Lastly, they want Ajay Mishra Teni, the junior home minister, to face legal action in relation to the Lakhimpur Kheri event.