Bathinda: Former MP Jagmeet Singh Brar has met with Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in New Delhi to discuss the farmer protests and the fast-unto-death by farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.
Speaking to TOI over phone, Brar said, “The meeting was constructive, with Chouhan listening attentively to the concerns raised about agricultural issues. A few days ago, I had raised the issues in a letter to the Prime Minister, which has been forwarded to the agriculture ministry by the PMO.”
Brar said that he also raised the issue regarding the draft for national policy framework on agricultural marketing. “I pointed out concerns from agricultural economists and scientists like Sucha Singh Gill, particularly regarding the potential collapse of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) system in Punjab.”
Brar said that Chouhan assured that the Centre is committed to addressing farmers’ issues, including the implementation of the Swaminathan Committee’s recommendations on minimum support price (MSP) with a 50% profit margin, as promised in the Rajya Sabha. He also emphasised that the doors of the central govt are open for further talks, Brar said, adding he had discussed the key issues with Dallewal, who reiterated demands for a legal guarantee of MSP at C2+50% and farm debt waiver.