Updates On The Farmers' Protest In 2024 | Union Ministers Meet With Chandigarh's Farmer Leaders.

Discussions are held between farmer leaders and Union Ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal, Nityanand Rai, while farmer organizations are getting ready to step up protests.

farmers near the Patiala district staged their Delhi Chalo protest at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border.

In Chandigarh, three Union Ministers and leaders of the farming community gather to discuss their demands, which include a legal guarantee for MSP for crops and the discharge of farm debt. The gathering takes place as thousands of farmers decide to call off their protest march towards the nation's capital at the Shambhu and Khanauri points of the Punjab-Haryana border, where they are surrounded by several layers of barriers and a heavy contingent of security officials.

Also read: "Delhi Chalo" demonstrations: Why are farmers heading to Delhi?

Updates on the farmers' protest in 2024 | The "Delhi Chalo" march is postponed until February 21 as leaders evaluate the plan

The heads of the farms stated that they are reviewing the government's most recent plan with subject matter specialists.

Marching toward New Delhi, farmers at the Punjab-Haryana border at the Shambhu barrier on February 18, 2024, demand the higher crop prices that have been promised to them.

Farmers' leaders today announced that they will study the proposal with subject matter experts and make a decision, even if the "Delhi Chalo" march has been put on hold for the time being. This comes after the fourth meeting between protesting farmers' representatives and the Central government in Delhi on February 18.

Ministers and farmer leaders had already met on February 8, 12, and 15, but the discussions had not produced a resolution. On Sunday, the farmers were greeted by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Arjun Munda, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai. Bhagwant Mann, the chief minister of Punjab, was also present at the meeting.

"We are hoping that by Monday, farmers will respond positively. At that point, the next round of meetings might begin. Following the late-night meeting on Sunday, Mr. Goyal urged farmers to halt their protest.

Regretfully, farmers are being targeted by drones: Sainath, P.

"It is regrettable that farmers demonstrating against the Center's policies are being targeted by drones. Drones are being used by the government to prevent farmers from protesting. During a Sunday program in Guntur, distinguished journalist P. Sainath stated, "The Central government is dividing the people on caste, creed, and communal lines."

The Haryana DGP refuted using pellet guns to suppress farmers who demonstrated.

On February 18, Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur refuted accusations on social media that police were using pellet guns to stop farmers, saying instead that they were used "minimum force."

As the farmers got ready to march more than 200 kilometers to Delhi, the Haryana Police halted them. 

Farm organizers claim that the march is currently on hold.

On Monday, farmers declared that, despite the temporary postponement of the "Delhi Chalo" march, they will consult with subject matter experts over the government's plan and make a decision. They also said that on February 21, the march would resume in a nonviolent manner.

"With the help of agricultural and legal specialists as well as farmers, we will deliberate over the government's suggestions, make a determination, and report back to the Center. We have placed our planned Delhi March on hold for the time being. But we will begin our peaceful march on February 21. Before we present our case to the government and talk about some outstanding concerns, we'll try that, said Kisan Mazdoor Morcha farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher.