Punjab police last month expelled farmers and demolished temporary buildings from the Chamborg and Hanori border points, where they held for more than a year. Representative file image. |Photo source: PTI
The centre postponed a proposed meeting with farmers leaders in Chandigarh on Thursday (1 May 2025), urging them to allow Punjab government officials to participate.
Puran Chandra Kishan, joint secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Union, wrote to Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) in this regard.
Communication was at the time of peasant leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who said they would be forced to boycott the negotiations if representatives of the Punjab government were invited.
He claimed that the agricultural community had a deep resentment towards the Punjab government, which expelled strike farmers and the khanauri border point in March.
On April 27, SKM (non-political) and KMM wrote to the union’s agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, urging the centre not to include representatives of the Punjab government at the proposed meeting.
“As you know, state governments play an important role in the federal structure. Therefore, it is appropriate to include state governments in the meeting. You are asked to rethink the above decision so that we can move forward to the solution through dialogue.”
“So, after active deliberation, you agree to the participation with the state. The May 4 meeting was postponed until we get your consent. The date of the next meeting will be decided upon receipt of your information,” the letter posted by the farmer.
Meanwhile, when asked about the needs of farmers, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said neither the minister nor the official would attend the talks this time.
“You (the farmer) requested it to be related to the center. You have a talk with it directly. We have no problems.”
On March 19, Punjab police suppressed the excited farmers and detained Mohari's leaders as they met with a central delegation led by Chouhan, the Minister of Agriculture in Chandigarh.
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In the following days, peasant leaders and some other detained farmers were released.
A March 19 meeting was organized to discuss farmers' requirements, including the minimum support price (MSP) guarantee.
Punjab police last month expelled farmers and demolished temporary buildings from the Chamborg and Hanori border points, where they held for more than a year.
publishing – May 2, 2025 at 07:14 AM IST
