THE NEWS FREEDOM
CHANDIGARH, FEBRUARY 15
Union ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal, and Nityanand Rai, alongside Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, engage in discussions with farmer leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Sarwan Singh Pandher, Jarnail Singh, and others at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26, Chandigarh. The farmers are advocating for a guaranteed law on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 23 crops, debt relief, and the withdrawal of cases filed during the 2020-21 farmers’ agitation.
Previous rounds of talks on February 8 and 12 concluded without resolution.
Disruptions and demonstrations mount as farmers intensify their agitation.
Protests disrupt train routes between Delhi and Amritsar, leading to the diversion of several trains. Meanwhile, farmers stage sit-ins at toll plazas, prompting authorities to waive toll fees for commuters. The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and BKU Dakunda (Dhaner) call for a four-hour ‘rail roko’ protest at various locations across Punjab, commencing at noon and expected to continue until 4 pm.
Internet Services Suspended in Punjab Amid Safety Concerns
Internet services are temporarily halted in parts of Patiala, Sangrur, and Fatehgarh Sahib districts until February 16, following directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs. This measure aims to ensure public safety and prevent potential emergencies, coinciding with ongoing farmer protests.
Nationwide Strike Announced in Solidarity with Farmers’ Demands
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and central trade unions call for a nationwide strike, known as ‘bharat bandh’, on February 16 to address agricultural sector demands, including MSP legislation. The strike aligns with the ‘Delhi chalo’ agitation, as farmers from Punjab march towards the national capital to press for government action.