In a significant move ahead of the crucial March 19 meeting with the Central Government, farmers protesting at Punjab and Haryana’s Shambhu and Khanauri borders have submitted a detailed MSP feasibility report to the Centre, asserting that the Centre can ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement at an estimated cost of Rs 25,000 - Rs 30,000 crore — as demanded by the Union Agriculture Minister in the previous meeting.
The report, prepared after consultations with agricultural experts, challenges the Central Government’s long-standing claim that legalizing MSP would be financially unviable. With this document, the farmers aim to push the Centre into a corner, demanding a fact-based discussion rather than political rhetoric in the upcoming negotiations.
The Central Government, now in possession of the farmers’ financial assessment, is set to scrutinize the figures with experts before responding in the high-stakes meeting. The report comes at a time when the movement has already gained significant momentum, and the farmer leaders are warning that failure to accept their demand could escalate the protest to a national level.
Meanwhile, the situation at the protest sites remains tense as farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s indefinite hunger strike has entered its 106th day, with him refusing any medical assistance for the past four days, heightening concerns over his deteriorating health. His condition is being closely monitored by fellow farmers and supporters, who have vowed to intensify their agitation if the government fails to address their demands.
The farmers’ agitation at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders has now been ongoing for nearly a year, having started on February 13, 2024. Despite six rounds of meetings between the farmers and the Central Government, a concrete resolution has remained elusive. The farmers have remained steadfast in their demand for a legal guarantee for MSP, arguing that it is the only way to ensure financial security for cultivators.
Unlike the 2020-21 farmers’ protest, which was primarily led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the current agitation is being carried out under the banners of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, which have brought together multiple farmer unions. Interestingly, SKM itself has not officially joined the ongoing movement, though discussions for unity between different farmer factions have taken place at least six times. The issue has even reached the Supreme Court, reflecting its national significance.
“Now as we have given our report with all the facts and figures to the Centre Government that providing legal guarantee of MSP would not be a massive financial burden, now it is on the Centre to respond with a concrete proposal. We hope that before our next talks, the government hold thorough discussions with the experts to analyze our claims and its financial feasibility,” a senior farmer leader said.
As a build-up to the March 19 meeting, farmers have unveiled a series of escalation plans and events to mobilize greater support and put additional pressure on the central government. On March 16, a Kisan Sammelan (farmer conference) will be held in Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi district to discuss the demand for a legal MSP guarantee. The day after, a joint conference with agricultural experts will be organized at Chandigarh’s Kisan Bhawan by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha to strengthen their argument for an MSP law.
On March 23, the martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, special programs will be held at the Data Singh Wala-Khanauri, Shambhu, and Ratanpura protest sites, further amplifying the movement.
Farmers, Police Clash in Gurdaspur Over Land Acquisition; 7 Injured
A minor clash erupted between farmers and police in Gurdaspur district on Tuesday as tensions flared over land acquisition for the Delhi-Katra Expressway. Farmers protesting in Nangal Jhor and Bharat villages alleged that police forcibly tried to clear land for the project, damaging standing wheat crops in the process. According to the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), at least seven farmers were injured in the police action and were later admitted to the Harchowal Government Hospital for treatment.
KMSC president Sarwan Singh Pandher accused the administration of forcefully acquiring land without providing compensation to farmers. “The police removed farmers’ turbans, destroyed standing crops, and used force to clear the fields. This is a clear violation of farmers' rights,” Pandher alleged. He named the injured farmers as Parminder Singh, Ajaib Singh, Gurmukh Singh, Harjit Singh, Ajit Singh, Nishan Singh, and Ajit Singh Bhittewind.
Early Tuesday morning, a team of district officials, accompanied by police personnel, arrived in the villages to remove farmers from the land earmarked for the highway project. As soon as the news spread, hundreds of farmers, including women, gathered near Nangal Jhor Gurdwara and began a sit-in protest.
The situation escalated when farmers, carrying union flags, rushed towards the machines being used to clear their fields. Some even laid down in front of the equipment, refusing to leave. A scuffle broke out, during which police allegedly pushed farmers back, leading to injuries and the forcible removal of turbans. Despite the clash, the administration was ultimately forced to retreat without completing the eviction.
The protest stems from the long-standing dispute over compensation for acquired land. Farmers insisted that they have not received fair compensation, while district authorities claimed that payments have already been made. “We will not allow forced land acquisition without proper compensation,” said a protesting farmer.
In response to the violence, Pandher announced that farmers will strategize their next move in a meeting, warning that the agitation will only intensify if the government does not engage in fair negotiations.
