A crucial meeting between farm leaders and a Supreme Court-mandated committee took place on Friday, reigniting the central demand for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP). A delegation from the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), spearheaded by prominent farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, held detailed discussions with the high-powered panel in Bathinda.
Core Demands and Historical Promises
The farmers' representatives presented a firm stance on their long-standing key issue. They reiterated the demand for a legal right to MSP on all crops, calculated as per the C2+50% formula recommended by the Swaminathan Commission. To bolster their argument, the delegation submitted a detailed study outlining the necessity of such a price mechanism to the committee members.
During the talks, the leaders reminded the committee of a past commitment. They stated that in 2018, when Jagjit Singh Dallewal was on a hunger strike, the central government had provided a written assurance to implement the Swaminathan committee report within six months. The farmers pointed out that this promise remains unfulfilled to date.
Addressing the 2024-25 Morcha and Committee's Mandate
The delegation also addressed the events surrounding the earlier protests at Shambhu and Khanauri borders. They submitted that it was not the farmers who blocked the roads during those morchas, but rather the Haryana Police that enacted the blockades.
This high-powered committee was formed by the Supreme Court on September 2, 2024, with a broad mandate to examine various agricultural issues. A primary focus of its work is the contentious right to MSP. The panel is headed by retired Justice Nawab Singh.
Announcing a Nationwide Mobilization: Yatra and Mahapanchayat
Following the meeting, the SKM (Non-Political) leaders addressed the media and unveiled plans for a significant mobilization. They announced a decision to undertake a massive nationwide yatra from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, commencing in the first week of February.
This extended journey is set to culminate in a major show of strength in the national capital. A Kisan Mahapanchayat will be organized at Delhi's Ramlila grounds on March 19. The leaders confirmed that at the end of this gathering, a comprehensive demand charter will be formally submitted in the name of the Prime Minister, keeping the pressure on the government to address their concerns.
