Punjab Government Seeks Union Agriculture Minister’s Help to Resolve Farmers’ Protest
Chandigarh, 4th January 2025: The Punjab government has reached out to the Centre, requesting intervention from Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to resolve the ongoing farmers’ protest at the Punjab-Haryana border.
Punjab’s Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian penned the letter, which also highlighted the hunger strike by farmer representative Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a fast-unto-death since November 26. The letter references the Supreme Court’s observation on the matter.
Written on 20th December, the letter was sent on the same day the SC instructed state authorities to hospitalize Dallewal if necessary. However, it was only received by the ministry this week. While Chouhan has yet to respond directly, he addressed the issue of Dallewal’s fast during a press conference on Wednesday, stating that his ministry would act according to the SC’s orders. When asked about inviting farmers for talks, Chouhan mentioned that he holds regular meetings with farmer organizations every Tuesday.
Farmers, led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), have been protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border since February of the previous year, demanding a legal guarantee for the procurement of crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
