Farmers' protest likely to end soon as SKM leaders meet today

The year-long agitation of farmers against the three contentious farm laws, that were withdrawn last week, is likely to end soon as the farmers have agreed to the second draft proposal from the government, which includes assurances on MSP and withdrawal of police cases.

The five-member committee of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), constituted for negotiations with the government, will hold meetings today to decide the future course of ongoing agitation which, reports said, may end soon.

"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," Farmer leader and SKM core committee member Gurnam Singh Chaduni said at a press conference held on Wednesday.

In the draft resolution sent for the second time by the government, it was said that the government has agreed to cancel the FIRs against farmers in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand with immediate effect. At the same time, there will be representatives of the SKM on the committee to be formed on MSP.

Besides, the government has also given consent to the farmers on compensation.

Sources said the government had added that all stakeholders would be consulted before tabling the electricity bill in Parliament as demanded by the protesters. Finally, on the issue of stubble burning, the Centre clarified that under law, farmers have been exempted from criminal liability.

The ministry's note to the SKM, however, remained silent on the sixth demand about arrest and dismissal of junior home minister Ajay Mishra in the wake of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which four farmers and a journalist died.

The SKM continued camping along the borders of Delhi even after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 19 -- along with an apology, announced the withdrawal of the three agriculture laws against which the farmers have been on streets since November 2020.

After the meeting on Wednesday, the farmers also were seen celebrating by distributing sweets among themselves.