Legal guarantee on MSP: Farmers submit report to govt, next round of talks on March 19
Farmers leaders of Khanauri and Shambhu morcha have submitted a report to the government outlining how the minimum support price (MSP) for crops could be implemented. The discussions between the farmers and the ministers were facilitated by a Supreme Court-appointed committee, and the next round of talks is scheduled for March 19.
Besides a legal guarantee on MSP, farmers are seeking loan waivers and withdrawal of cases against protesting farmers. The Central Government has proposed a five-year plan to buy pulses, maize and cotton crops at MSP.
Convention before next round of talks
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has announced that on March 17, the two forums will host a convention at Kisan Bhawan, Chandigarh, where agricultural economists and intellectuals will be invited to discuss the issue of legal guarantee on MSP. The convention is being organised two days before the next round of talks with the government. It has also been decided to celebrate the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on March 23 at Shambhu border.
Confirming the development, Shambhu morcha convener Sarwan Singh Pandher said after due deliberation between the members of both SKM (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, the report was handed over to former DIG Narinder Bhargav, who is mediating between the farmers and the government panel.
“It is not our job to frame a report, rather it is the job of policymakers. We have kept the report simple. During our last interaction with a panel led by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, we had asked how the MSP could be implemented. We have mentioned that the parliamentary committee has also recommended legal guarantees on MSP and mentioned about the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report published last year highlighting the extent to which Indian government policies taxed farmers,” said Pandher.
Sources said the report would be handed over to the Agriculture Ministry officials and economists for scrutiny. The added that the experts would frame the response of the government which would be tabled before the farmers on March 19. The second round of talks between a three-member Central Government delegation, led by Chouhan, and the 28 farmer representatives was held on February 22.
