Farmers` protest likely to end, SKM may call off 14-month agitation today

SKM to take a call on ending the 14-month agitation only after receiving the final copy of the central government`s revised proposal which has accepted their demands.

New Delhi: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) is likely to call off their 14-month agitation on Thursday (December 9, 2021) at 12 pm, after receiving the final copy of the Union government’s revised proposal which has accepted their demands.

SKM on Wednesday had said that a consensus has been reached over a revised draft proposal of the Centre on their pending demands and the future course of the movement will be decided today, even as its leaders demanded a formal communication on government letterhead.

Gurnam Singh Chaduni, Farmer leader and SKM core committee member stated that the earlier draft from the Centre on pending demands was not acceptable to them following which a fresh proposal was received from the government on Wednesday.

"We are in agreement with the government regarding our demands. We will decide about suspending the agitation after the meeting tomorrow. No decision has been taken yet on calling off agitation. Another meeting of SKM will be to be held tomorrow (Thursday) at 12 noon," Chaduni said at a press conference after a meeting of the SKM core committee.

"Consensus has reached on government's fresh proposal. Now, a formal communication signed on the government's letterhead is awaited. SKM will meet again tomorrow at twelve noon, at Singhu Border, to take a formal decision thereafter to lift the morchas,” the SKM said in a statement.

Additionally, a five-member panel has also been formed for a dialogue with the Centre regarding pending demands of farmers including legal guarantee on MSP, withdrawal of cases against farmers registered during the movement and compensation to kins of farmers died during the agitation.

Another farmer leader and SKM's five-member committee member, Yudhvir Singh said, “The ball is now in the government's court and a final decision will be taken tomorrow (Thursday).”

On Tuesday, the SKM had demanded clarification on certain points in the government's proposal, including on the precondition set for the withdrawal of "fake" cases against farmers.

On November 29, a bill was passed in Parliament to repeal the three contentious farm laws, one of the main demands of the protesting farmers.

But the stalemate continues with the protesters demanding that the government fulfil their other demands that included a legal guarantee on MSP and withdrawal of cases against farmers.

(With PTI inputs)