Centre agrees for talks with protesting farmers, next round likely on Feb 14

The Centre has offered to hold a meeting with Punjab’s protesting farmers on February 14 to discuss their demands, including legal MSP, which resulted in farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death entered the 55th day on Sunday, agreeing to take medical aid, even as the fast will continue.
In a press statement, both the farmer organisations — Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha – have said that Dallewal will not end his indefinite fast till a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops is given.
The breakthrough came after a delegation of officials from the Union agriculture ministry, led by Joint Secretary Priya Ranjan, met Dallewal and other farmer leaders for over three hours after reaching the protest site at 3 pm Saturday. Both SKM (Non-Political) and KMM are spearheading the agitation for the last 11 months after talks with the Centre failed. They have been camping at two protest sites on border between Punjab and Haryana after the Haryana government did not allow them to pass through to reach Delhi.
Following the announcement of the meeting on February 14, farmer leaders appealed to Dallewal to take medical aid so that he could participate in the proposed deliberations. The delegation also requested Dallewal to take medical aid so that he can participate in the proposed meeting.
Talking to media at the Khanauri protest site, Ranjan said the high-level delegation was sent by the Centre, keeping in mind the deteriorating health of Dallewal. He said Dallewal was urged to break his fast and take medical aid, so that he can participate in the meeting.
Initially, farmer leaders suggested that if the central government is really concerned about Dallewal’s health, then the meeting should be held soon and in Delhi. But the officials said that the code of conduct is in place in view of the Delhi elections, due to which the central government cannot make any announcement, according to the statement. Also it was pointed to the farmer leaders that the Budget will be passed by February 12-13 after which the Centre will be in a situation to resume talks.