Farmers Protest: Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said on Wednesday (January 1) that the government will follow the Supreme Court’s decision on the ongoing farmers’ protest on the Punjab-Haryana border and will take steps accordingly.
When asked about talks with the protesting farmers to end the deadlock, the Agriculture Minister said, “Action will be taken according to the decision given by the Supreme Court.” While the protesting farmers have requested the Center to hold talks with them, the minister said that the Supreme Court is currently looking into the matter.
‘Meet agricultural bodies every Tuesday’
The minister said that he has been meeting various agricultural bodies every Tuesday and discussing their concerns. The minister’s comments come at a time when the Supreme Court is appealing contempt action against the Punjab government for not following directions to hospitalize farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite fast for over a month. The petition is about to be heard.
Jagjit Singh Dallewal is on a indefinite fast from 26th November.
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal is on an indefinite fast at the Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana since November 26 to put pressure on the Center to accept the demands of the agitating farmers, including legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana since February 13. At that time their march towards Delhi was stopped by the security forces.
On 28 December, the Supreme Court strongly reprimanded the Punjab government for not taking Dallewal to the hospital, while it expressed doubt over the intentions of the agitating farmers to protest medical aid for the 70-year-old man. On 31 December, the Punjab government approached the Supreme Court. Informed that Jagjit Singh Dallewal has agreed to accept medical assistance provided the Center accepts his proposal to hold talks.
meeting with officials
The Union Minister said he held several meetings with his ministry officials on Wednesday, the first day of the new year, and set focused targets to achieve the targets set for the agriculture sector by March 31.
