Delhi Chalo March: Govt, Farmer Leaders Hold 4th Round of Talks; Internet Ban Extended in Punjab, Haryana | Updates

The fourth round of talks between farmer leaders and the central government panel including Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai in connection with their demands to end the ongoing ‘Delhi chalo’ protests at the Punjab-Haryana borders is underway in Chandigarh. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is also present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, following a meeting of United Kisan Morcha in Ludhiana, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) Punjab unit farmers said they will intensify the agitation if the government does not agree to their demands.

“We have a meeting on February 22. This govt has deceived us. If the government does not agree with our demands we will intensify this agitation,” the farmers said.

“A big decision has been taken during the meeting of United Kisan Morcha in Ludhiana. Houses of BJP leaders will be surrounded on 20, 21 and 22 February. Trains, however, will not be stopped in view of Shri Guru Ravidas Jayanti,” the SKM farmers further said during a press conference.

4th Round of Talks Between Union Minister and Farmer Leaders

The two sides — ministers and farmer leaders — had met earlier on February 8, 12 and 15 but talks remained inconclusive.

Meanwhile, the suspension of internet services has been extended in certain areas of some Punjab districts, including Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib, till February 24 on the orders of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs while the ban on internet services has been extended in Haryana, till February 19.

Farmers’ Protest: Here are Top Updates of the Day

• The suspension of internet services has been extended in certain areas of some Punjab districts, including Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib, till February 24.
• The ban on internet services has been extended in Haryana till February 19.
• Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for a black flag protest against Members of Parliaments (MPs) of NDA on February 21.
• Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal asked the government to accept their demands before the model code of conduct for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections comes into force.
• Meanwhile, after a meeting with 32 organizations of Punjab under the banner of United Kisan Morcha in Ludhiana today, farmers of the SKM Punjab unit said there will be a meeting of farmers’ organisations at the national level in Delhi on February 22 during which, a decision will be made on carrying out a countrywide movement.
• “On February 22, it has been decided to surround the houses of all the BJP leaders of the state. All toll plazas in the state will also be made free on these three days. However, on the appeal of the head of Dera Ballan, trains will not be stopped during this period in view of Sri Guru Ravidas Jayanti,” the farmers said in a statement.
• A heavy deployment of security has been assigned at the Singhu border as farmers ahead of the fourth round of talks.
• In Haryana’s Kurukshetra, a panchayat was held on Sunday in which Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni and some Khaps took part to chalk out a course of action to support the protesting farmers from Punjab.
• The Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) continued to hold protests at toll plazas in Punjab for the second consecutive day.
• “The SKM has decided to immediately intensify agitation and it shall be done with multiple calls for massive actions in coordination with workers and all other sections of the people,” said the Samyukta Kisan Morcha in a statement.
• Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee leaders said on Sunday that the government had asked for some time to discuss the matter with the union ministers.
• Strict action will be taken against those who disturb law and order, said Haryana Police Chief Shatrujeet Kapur after visiting the Data Singhwala-Khanauri border point.
• Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Saturday announced that farmers will stage dharnas in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Uttarakhand on February 21 to press their demands.
• The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) took out a tractor march in Haryana.

Farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on February 13 morning began their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march in to press for their demands, amid heavy barricading at the Haryana-Punjab border and entry points into the National Capital.

Besides a legal guarantee of MSP, the farmers are demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.