Farmer Leaders To Meet In Delhi To Discuss Centre’s Offer To End Protest

A five-member team of farmer leaders will meet at 10.30 am in Delhi to discuss the proposal sent by the centre – a proposal that could end to more than 15 months of (sometimes violent) agitations.

Farmer leaders Balbir Singh Rajewal, Ashok Dhawle, Shiv Kumar Kakka, Gurnam Singh Chaduni and Yudhvir Singh will then go to Singhu on the national capital’s borders for a 2 pm meeting with leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of farmer unions that is leading the protest.

Farmer leaders say they have been in touch with central government officials via the phone.

In a significant development yesterday, sources said the centre had indicated it is willing to offer a written assurance on a number of the farmers’ demands, including a committee on MSP and the dropping of all cases – those filed during the protests and those related to stubble burning.

It was understood that while the farmers were happy with the centre’s offer, there is one sticking point – the centre wants the farmers to stand down before police cases are dropped.

A discussion on the centre’s offer was held yesterday as well, but farmer leaders could not settle on how to move forward.

Last week farmers said Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to them (via a phone call) to discuss outstanding issues; this was after their protests forced the recall of the farm laws.

The farmers constituted the five-member panel to hold talks – talks that were to include their demand to legalise MSP and withdraw police cases against the protesters.

The centre was given a ‘deadline’, which expired yesterday. “… if a compromise is found, then there is a possibility of farmers going back,” Yudhvir Singh, a union leader told Media.