Stalemate Persists: Agitators, Union Ministers to Meet for Fourth Round of Farmer Protests Talks

Amidst ongoing protests, farmers and Union Ministers convene for the fourth round of talks. Meanwhile, the ban on internet services extends in Haryana. Tensions escalate as police use tear gas against protesters.

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The fourth round of discussions between farmer leaders and Union Ministers is set to take place today, marking another attempt to resolve the ongoing protests. Despite several prior meetings, including ones on February 8, 12, and 15, no agreement has been reached thus far.

The agitators, hailing from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, have been staging intense protests at the Haryana-Delhi border. Their primary demand revolves around securing a legal guarantee for minimum support prices (MSP) on crops.

Adding to the tension, the Haryana government has extended the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts by two more days, till February 19, due to the ongoing agitation. The affected districts include Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa.

On February 16, the situation escalated when Haryana Police resorted to firing tear gas shells to disperse protesting farmers at the Shambhu border near Ambala. Similar clashes between farmers and law enforcement occurred during the initial days of the protests.

Despite attempts to advance towards Delhi during the "Delhi Chalo" march, farmers find themselves encamped at Shambhu and Khanauri points on Punjab's border with Haryana. Their demands, articulated by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, span various issues including the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and laborers, and arm debt waivers, among others.

The farmers also seek justice for victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act of 2013, and compensation for families of those who died during previous agitations. As both sides persist in their stance, the impasse prolongs, deepening the standoff between the protesting farmers and the government.