Punjab farmers call off protest after meeting with CM Bhagwant Mann
India Today
The stand off between the protesting farmers and the Punjab government ended on Wednesday after CM Bhagwat Mann met them at the Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh. The government has accepted the majority of the demands and the protest has been called off.
The protesting farmers and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwat Mann reached a consensus after a meeting with representatives of 23 Punjab farmer unions was held at Punjab Bhawan in Chandigarh on Wednesday. The farmers have now decided to call off the protest at the Chandigarh-Mohali border.
The stand off between the state government and Farmer Unions ended after today's meeting with the CM and the majority of the demands of farmers have been accepted.
The meeting lasted for more than two and half hours, following which the CM left the Punjab Bhawan.
Farmers had given an ultimatum to the government and said if the chief minister did not hold a meeting with them by Wednesday, they would move towards Chandigarh, breaking barricades to hold an indefinite protest.
Thousands of farmers had started a protest at the Chandigarh-Mohali border against the government over various issues affecting vehicular movement. Earlier today, a heavy police force was deployed and barricades were put up to maintain the law and order situation.
The farmers had to spend the night on the road after they were stopped from heading towards Chandigarh to press the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government with various demands, including a bonus on wheat and beginning paddy sowing from 10 June.
Several farmer unions, affiliated to the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), began a march towards Chandigarh in a bid to draw the attention of the Punjab Chief Minister. The protesting farmers want a Rs 500 bonus on each quintal of wheat as its yield has dropped due to a rise in temperature.
