Chandigarh: The farmers’ protest at the Chandigarh border, which had continued for the past seven days under the banner of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), officially ended on Monday following an agreement with the Punjab government.
Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian reached the protest site and handed over the state government’s letter of approval to farmer leaders. He announced from the stage that the demands falling under the state government’s jurisdiction had been accepted.
Khudian also announced that the Punjab government would convene a special session of the state Assembly this month to take up the issue of repealing provisions related to agreements concerning Punjab’s river waters.
Following the government’s acceptance of the demands and the handover of the agreement letter, thousands of farmers gathered at the protest site began returning to their homes.
Earlier, the SKM leaders had held a meeting at a hotel in Phase 11 before reaching the protest venue.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between farmer organisations and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian and Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh at Punjab Bhawan on Sunday night. The government agreed to consider the farmers’ demand for a special Assembly session to repeal certain provisions of river-water agreements.
Other demands accepted included those concerning the Electricity Amendment Bill, Seed Bill and one-time settlement of farmers’ loans, along with a demand for an increase in the sugarcane price.
