Ahead of Punjab Polls, Centre Meets Farmer Unions; 10-Point Charter Submitted

With the 2027 Punjab assembly elections roughly six months away, the central government has initiated a fresh round of outreach to farmer unions. Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar met a delegation from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) in Gurugram on Thursday night in a meeting that lasted nearly three and a half hours.

The delegation, led by convener Jagjit Singh Dallewal, included 13 members from eight states. They submitted a 10-point charter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, covering long-standing issues such as a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), a complete farm-loan waiver, and concerns regarding the proposed India-US trade agreement.

A major point of discussion was the India-US trade pact. The farmers demanded that agriculture, dairy, poultry, and fisheries be kept entirely out of the agreement. According to the farmers' statement, Khattar assured them that the interests of these sectors would be protected and that the Centre would soon issue a public statement to clarify its position.

On the MSP demand, the charter referenced a 2011 recommendation by Narendra Modi, then Gujarat Chief Minister, to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, suggesting statutory provisions to ensure crop transactions do not occur below the declared MSP. The farmers reiterated their demand for MSP based on the Swaminathan Commission's 'C2+50%' formula.

Khattar, who also holds the Power portfolio, reportedly acknowledged shortcomings in the current compensation policy for land affected by high-tension transmission lines. He assured the delegation that corrective measures are being considered and agreed to bring transparency to the process of assessing land market value. The Centre also agreed to examine a demand for 60% of market value as compensation for Right of Way in rural areas.

Another politically sensitive demand raised was the withdrawal of cases registered against farmers during the 2020-21 and 2024-25 agitations. Khattar assured the delegation he would take up the matter with officials.

The charter also includes demands for a higher sugarcane price, restoration of key provisions of the 2013 land acquisition law, a national policy for climate-related disaster compensation, and reforms to the crop insurance scheme.

Khattar termed the talks "very good and cordial" and said the demands would be conveyed to the concerned departments. The meeting follows the postponement of a proposed 'Kisan Bachao Padyatra' to Delhi after assurances of dialogue from the Haryana administration. The outreach is seen as significant as the BJP looks to expand its footprint in Punjab, where farmer issues remain a key electoral factor.