Farmers call off protest in Chandigarh; Ugrahan says 'will wait for new farming policy documents'
Farmers' protest: Farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan on Friday made an official announcement from the stage of the dharna site in Chandigarh's Sector 34 with regard to calling off the protest with immediate effect. He said the farmers would now await the new farming policy documents. The protest had been ongoing in Chandigarh for the past couple of days.
The protesting farmers have started returning to their homes after the announcement.
Notably, on Thursday, farmers held a three-hour meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and officials to discuss their demands. Each issue was deliberated upon, but no decision was made by the farmers to call off the protest. They stated that they would meet on Friday to make further decisions. At the meeting today, they, however, decided to call off the protest
During the meeting with the CM, it was agreed that the draft of the new agricultural policy would be shared with the farmers and all related departments. Further discussions with the farmers and other members will follow before its implementation. In regard to the farmers' debts, a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme will be introduced in cooperative banks. The withdrawal of cases filed against farmers during previous protests was also discussed, though many cases have already advanced to the chargesheet stage. A final decision would be made after consultation with Punjab's Advocate General. Besides, discussions focused on groundwater preservation and ensuring irrigation water reaches the farthest fields.
Farmers from Punjab, under the banners of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and the Farm Labour Union, gathered in Chandigarh after 15 years. They had set up their protest at Sector 34's Dussehra Ground, ahead of the Punjab Assembly's monsoon session. Initially, they demanded a march to the Assembly, but the Chandigarh Administration permitted them to march only to Matka Chowk. Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh met the farmers at Matka Chowk, received their memorandum of demands, and assured them he would advocate for their concerns with the CM.
- With inputs from our correspondent
