Union ministers meet farmers' leaders in Chandigarh

Three Union ministers, including Piyush Goyal, held a meeting with the leaders of farmers' unions in Chandigarh, days before their planned march to the national capital seeking legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP). A breakaway faction of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has given a protest call - 'Dilli Chalo' - on February 13.

The delegation of Union ministers also included agriculture minister Arjun Munda and minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai.

According to sources, the farmer leaders received letters to participate in the meeting at Chandigarh. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann had spoken to the farmer leaders. He was also present during Thursday's meeting.


More than 200 farmers' unions, including around 150 unions of SKM (non-political) and around 76 unions under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, have been preparing for the protest. They have been demanding legal guarantee for MSP as per the Swaminathan Committee recommendations, among other demands.

The BJP-led government at the Centre had faced farmers' protest at the borders of Delhi in 2020-21 against three farm laws. The protest lasted for more than a year, forcing the Centre to repeal the laws.

During the then protest, Union ministers including the then agriculture minister Narendra Tomar and Goyal had held meetings with leaders of farmers' unions.