'Care about farmers' interests': Union Minister Arjun Munda on 'Delhi Chalo' protests

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Arjun Munda on Tuesday reiterated the central government’s stance on having a dialogue with the protesting farmers in New Delhi adding that authorities will do “everything possible to find a solution to their concerns.” On Tuesday, the national capital came to a standstill after farmers from nearby states began their ‘Delhi Chalo’ campaign to push their demands to the central government. “We care about the interests of the farmers. We have always been ready for talks and discussions and we are ready to do everything possible to find a solution to this issue. This issue also concerns the state governments. We need time to understand this issue and find a method to solve this,” Munda said.

#WATCH | On farmers' march, Union Minister Arjun Munda says "We care about the interests of the farmers. It is not our concern if someone is doing politics over this issue. We have always been ready for talks and discussions and we are ready to do everything possible to find a… pic.twitter.com/8Dh2ajhDhk

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024

Why are farmers protesting? In a second round of protests since 2021, farmer members from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are heading to New Delhi to press their demands on the BJP-led central government. The key demands put forward by the farmers are:

1. 1. Farmers’ groups have demanded the enactment of a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) for crops
   2. They also want the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations and pension for farmers
   3. Farmers are also calling for “justice” for the victims of Lakhimpur Kheli
   4. Farm groups want the central government to repeal the Electricity Act of 2020

‘Tried our best’ Meanwhile, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher on Tuesday said that farmers’ groups were forced to take to the streets after all efforts to address their concerns over meetings with the government failed. “We want to present our views before India that we tried our best in yesterday’s meeting to take some kind of decision so that we can avoid confrontation with the government and we get something that we had hoped for. We can only hope and trust. After doing this, we sat in the meeting for 5 hours,” Pandher said earlier today.

#WATCH: Fatehgarh Sahib: Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher says "We tried to find a solution so that we do not have to stand against the Govt. We were expecting that we would be given something. In the 5-hour-long meeting yesterday,… pic.twitter.com/ssD512gdrc

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024

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He added that farmers are not only targeting the BJP but also have held the Congress equally responsible. “Congress party does not support us, we consider Congress equally responsible as much as the BJP. These laws were brought by Congress itself…We are not in favour of anyone, we raise the voice of farmers…” Pandher said.