Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday urged the state farmers to reconsider their decision to boycott meetings with the Centre that include representatives of the Punjab Government. Stressing the federal nature of Indian democracy, Chouhan asserted that “the state government cannot be ignored” in any discussions meant to resolve farmers’ issues, since it is ultimately the state machinery that implements agricultural policies and welfare schemes.
Chouhan was on a day-long visit to Punjab, where he interacted with farmers at Kheri Gandian village on the Patiala-Rajpura road, and later addressed an agricultural gathering at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Rauni village on the Patiala-Nabha road. Commending the critical role of Punjab’s farmers in the Green Revolution and national food security, Chouhan called for “dialogue over discord” to tackle agricultural distress.
While speaking to the media at KVK Rauni, Chouhan said: “We believe in ‘Samvad se Samadhan’ (resolving issues through dialogue). The Centre has always been open to talking with farmers, but any resolution requires coordination with the state government. Punjab Government is a key stakeholder, and we can’t exclude them from the talks. After all, it is the state that executes policies on the ground.”
He also revealed that he had formally invited Punjab’s Agriculture Minister and senior officials to Delhi for follow-up discussions on farmers’ demands.
The outreach comes amid escalating tension between farmer unions and both the Centre and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab Government. Farmer leaders, from the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), have categorically refused to participate in any meeting involving Punjab Ministers. Their anger stems from what they describe as “betrayal” following a March 19 meeting in Delhi.
According to union leaders, the March talks had ended on a positive note with both sides agreeing to reconvene. However, within hours of the meeting, Punjab Police allegedly cracked down on protestors returning to their camps, arresting key leaders — including Jagjit Singh Dallewal who had been on a hunger strike for over 100 days — and forcibly removing tents from protest sites at Shambhu and Khanauri on NH-44 and NH-52. Protesters were detained, vehicles and belongings reportedly went missing, and the nearly year-long agitation was brought to an abrupt end.
Dallewal, convenor of SKM (Non-Political), had described the action as “a betrayal of trust and a direct assault on the dignity of farmers”.
On April 27, farmer bodies had issued a stern warning to the Centre ahead of a scheduled May 4 meeting in Chandigarh, stating that any participation by Punjab Government officials would lead to a complete boycott. A formal letter to Chouhan outlined these objections and sought written assurance that Punjab Ministers would be excluded — a condition the Centre has not agreed to.
SKM (Non-Political) leader Abhimanyu Kohar, on Thursday, reiterated, “We made it clear that we will not attend any meeting where Punjab Government is involved. They backstabbed us, and trust once broken is not easily restored.” Kohar added that a joint meeting of farmer leaders is scheduled for June 11 in Chandigarh to review the situation and determine the future course of action.
Chouhan, however, emphasized that any resolution demands inclusivity and mutual trust. “The Centre respects the farmers’ right to protest and demand, but resolution can only come from sitting across the table.
Farmer resentment is not limited to the State Government alone. Many demands remain unaddressed by the Centre, including the foremost — a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), based on Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations. Farmers also seek loan waivers for farmers and farm labourers, pensions for agricultural workers, withdrawal of police cases, justice for the Lakhimpur Kheri violence victims, and the repeal of the contentious 2020 Electricity Amendment Bill.
The list of 13 major demands also includes reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013; ban on exploitative trade agreements; compensation and government jobs to families of deceased protestors; fair pricing for electricity and fertilizers; national commissions for sugarcane, pulses, and other neglected crops; regulation against fake seeds, pesticides, and fertilizers; increase in MGNREGA days and daily wages; protection of tribal land rights under the Constitution’s Fifth Schedule.
With both sides standing firm, the road to reconciliation remains uncertain. Yet, the Minister’s visit may be seen as an attempt to rebuild bridges — even if tentative — in the hope of restarting a dialogue crucial to India's agrarian future.
