The Centre has scheduled a meeting with Punjab’s protesting farmers on February 14 in Chandigarh to discuss their demands, a senior Union government official confirmed on Saturday evening.
This development follows a meeting between a delegation from the Union Agriculture Ministry, led by Joint Secretary Priya Ranjan, and farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is leading the protest. The officials also met with representatives of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM). The Centre’s delegation urged Dallewal, who is on the 54th day of his hunger strike, to seek medical assistance to participate in the upcoming talks.
Speaking to reporters at the Khanauri protest site, Ranjan emphasized that the delegation had been sent due to concerns over Dallewal’s deteriorating health. “We enquired about his health and had a discussion with the representatives. The meeting will take place in Chandigarh on February 14. We strongly urge him to break his fast and receive medical aid to be able to attend the meeting,” he said.
This breakthrough follows several rounds of talks between Central ministers and protesting farmers last year, including meetings on February 8, 12, 15, and 18, which ended inconclusively.
Earlier on Saturday, farmers at the Khanauri and Shambhu border points, located between Punjab and Haryana, announced they had received a proposal from the Centre which they plan to discuss. The farmers, who have been protesting at these border points since February 13, 2024, initially set up camp there after security forces blocked their attempt to march to Delhi to press for their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support prices (MSP) for crops.
Dallewal, the convener of the SKM, has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Khanauri since November 26, 2024. His condition has reportedly become critical, with Dallewal losing around 20kg. He has refused medical assistance throughout his fast.
On Saturday, 10 more farmers joined the hunger strike at Khanauri, bringing the total number of fasting farmers to 121. The protesting farmers have made it clear that they are committed to their cause, despite the ongoing health concerns of their leader.
