Farmers' protest: No consensus on Centre's proposal, SKM to meet again tomorrow

Govt proposed that they will agree to our demands and that we should end the protest, but the proposal is not clear. We have our apprehensions which will be discussed tomorrow at 2 pm. Our movement is not going anywhere, will be here: Rakesh Tikait

Farmers' body SKM asked the government that its compensation for the farmers who died during the course of the agitation should be based on the Punjab government's model. Farmers said they will convey their feedback to the Centre and expect its revert by tomorrow. The SKM will again hold a crucial meeting on Wednesday.

Speaking to media after a crucial meet, Farmers' body SKM said that they have reservations against the government's representatives on the MSP committee on which discussions will be held further.

Speaking on the pending demands, Farmer's body SKM said that the government wants both farmers and government officials should be part of the committee on MSP and other pending demands.

Addressing a presser after the crucial meeting, Farmers body SKM informed that the government in its proposal has asked them to first end the protest, and only then cases against them will be taken back.

The farmers cleared their stand saying they will not accept this condition of first ending the protest and informed talks will be held further on this condition.

Farmers may announce a big decision in relation to the ongoing agitation which has been continuing for over a year. According to sources, a crucial meeting by SKM is underway at Singhu border following which farmers are likely to address media. Sources say they may announce the end of their protest.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has said that a letter has been received from the government wherein the latter has agreed to the pending demands, sources told India TV. 

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha had last week formed a five-member panel for dialogue with the government on their pending demands including MSP, compensation to kin of farmers who died during the agitation against the agri laws and withdrawal of cases against the protesters. The development comes after Union Home Minister Amit Shah, according to sources in the SKM, spoke to a senior farmer leader over the phone earlier this week.

The government has claimed that 18.17 lakh farmers have benefitted with Minimum Support Price (MSP) value of Rs 57,032.03 crore from paddy procurement in Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2021-22. In KMS 2020-21, at least 1.31 famers were benefitted with MSP value of Rs 1,68,823.23 crore (as on November 2021) and procurement of 894 LMT was done, the release said.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi gives adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over the issue of compensation to the farmers who died during farmers' agitation over the three farm laws.

The Delhi Police on Monday told a court that no cognisable offence was committed under its jurisdiction, while replying to a plea seeking lodging of an FIR against Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for his alleged remarks against the protesting farmers in a video.

Congress workers on Monday staged demonstrations all over Uttar Pradesh to protest the alleged shortage of fertilizer for farmers in the state. The Congress workers staged demonstrations in all UP districts, raising the slogan "khaad do varna UP chhodo" (give fertiliser or else leave UP). The party said that farmers are facing immense hardships but Chief Minister Adityanath is busy addressing election rallies and laying foundation stones of fake projects.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait has said that farmers' protest will not end as the Centre has not accepted the demands yet. Tikait, who is spearheading the protest at Delhi's Ghazipur site, said that the SKM will meet on December 4 to chalk out future strategy. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Last week, the government said it has "no record" on the number of farmers who died during the year-long agitation demanding repeal of the three farm laws and hence there was no question of providing financial assistance to anyone. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

The SMK has sent a list of 702 farmers who are said to have died during protests. "We have sent a list of 702 farmers who were martyred during the agitation," farmers' leader Kishan Pal said. This came after the government in the Lok Sabha while replying to a question said that it "has no record of anyone losing life due to agitation, so the question of granting compensation does not arise". CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

A crucial meeting of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) will be held at the Singhu border today to decide the future course of action. Although the government has repealed the three farm laws, farmer leaders have said that they will not return until their pending demands are met. 

Repeal of the farm laws was one of the main demands of the farmers who have been protesting at several Delhi border points since November last year. But the stalemate continues as their other demands such as legal guarantee on MSP, compensation to families of farmers who died during the protest, withdrawal of cases against farmers are still to be met.