India News | Punjab Farmers End Protest, Minister Dhaliwal Says Consensus Reached on Demands

Chandigarh, Nov 24 (PTI) Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) chief Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who had been on a fast unto death to press for farmers' demands, broke his hunger strike on Thursday after Punjab Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal announced that consensus had been reached on various demands following marathon talks.

Dhaliwal offered juice to the fasting Dallewal at the protest site in Faridkot as he broke his hunger strike.

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Later, Dallewal told reporters that the farmers' protests, which had been going on in six regions of Punjab, would be lifted with immediate effect.

"We held a marathon meeting today (Thursday). It is a matter of happiness that we have reached a consensus," the agriculture minister said.

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Another meeting with the farmers' delegation will be held in Chandigarh on December 16, he said.

While commenting on the demand for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's apology over his remarks on the farmers' protests, Dhaliwal said there was some miscommunication as the AAP government had always stood for their welfare.

However, he said "we express regret" if any of Mann's words had hurt the farmers' sentiments.

The farmers' protest against the heavy fines on stubble burning and lower compensation for crop damage due to inclement weather and pest attack and land acquisition for national highway projects had entered its ninth day on Thursday.

Farmers' leader Dallewal had also demanded an apology from Mann for his recent "paid protests" remark against the farmers.

Speaking on the issue of burning stubble, Dhaliwal said all cases registered against farmers would be taken back.

"Stubble issue is not to punish farmers but we have said we have to find a solution. Red entries in their records will also be taken back," he said.

The minister added that the compensation for crop damage would be paid by December 31.

Dhaliwal also assured the farmers that he would look into their concerns over the Punjab Village Common Lands Act.

The farmers were also assured that they would be paid compensation for animals that died or were affected by lumpy skin disease.

The state government has issued a notification on the demands that have been accepted. The farmers were also told that the issues which remain would be issued.

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) had been spearheading the protests in Amritsar, Mansa, Patiala, Faridkot and Bathinda.

The Faridkot district administration and senior police officers had made several efforts to persuade Dallewal to end his hunger strike.

Earlier in the day, they called the farmers' leaders for a meeting in which the Faridkot deputy commissioner, senior police officers from the district and the AAP's Faridkot MLA Gurdit Singh Sekhon were present.

In the meeting, the farmers' leaders reiterated their demands, including an apology from Mann. Minister Dhaliwal held marathon talks with the farmers later in the evening.

Following the meeting, the farmers' leaders reached the protest site and briefed Dallewal. Dhaliwal reached the site late in the night and announced that a consensus had been reached.

Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) chief Dallewal also issued a warning to the state government that if it went back on any promise, then the farmers would not hesitate to resume their protest. He, however, assured that the government would be given reasonable time to fulfil its promises.

Earlier, Mann had slammed the farmers' unions for frequently blocking roads as part of their protests, saying that the common people were facing inconvenience.

Blocking roads by holding sit-ins has become a "trend" during the past few days, he had said last week.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)