Punjab's Agricultural Turmoil: Urgent Dialogue Sought

Punjab Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian has appealed to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for dialogue with protesting farmers. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's hunger strike, lasting 40 days, underscores demands for legal MSP guarantees. Farmers persist at Punjab-Haryana borders, marking continued unrest against the BJP-led Centre.

Punjab Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian has called for Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to personally intervene in resolving the ongoing deadlock with protesting farmers. He emphasized the need for the Centre to engage in dialogue to address farmers' concerns, particularly highlighting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's 40-day hunger strike at the Khanauri protest site.

The current situation escalated as farmers continue to press for legal guarantees regarding the minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Despite efforts to initiate talks, the protests, rooted at the Punjab-Haryana border since February last year, remain steadfast, particularly under the leadership of Dallewal, who is enduring his strike without medical assistance.

With the pressure mounting, Khuddian joined a pre-budget meeting via video conference, urging Chouhan to leverage his experience as former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh to address the issue. The farmer protests have become a significant concern, prompting calls for urgent governmental action in compliance with Supreme Court directives.

(With inputs from agencies.)