Amid Standoff With Govt, Farmers’ Body ‘Rejects’ Center’s 5-year MSP Contract Offer – News18

Last Updated: February 19, 2024, 19:22 IST

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) – an umbrella organisation of farmer unions not directly linked to those leading the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, has rejected the government’s 5-year MSP contract offer. (Representational Photo: PTI)

The SKM, on Monday evening criticised the proposal as “diverting and the focal demands of farmers”

After the fourth round of talks between protesting farmers and Union Ministers concluded on Sunday night, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) – an umbrella organisation of farmer unions not directly linked to those leading the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, has rejected the government’s 5-year MSP contract offer.

After leaving the meeting with farmer leaders late Sunday night, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that a panel of three Union Ministers — Goyal along with Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Arjun Munda and Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai — proposed a five-year plan of buying pulses, maize and cotton crop at minimum support prices from the farmers.

The SKM, however, on Monday evening criticised the proposal as “diverting and the focal demands of farmers”, and insisted on nothing less than the purchase of “all crops (23, including the above five) with guaranteed procurement (as) promised in the BJP manifesto (before the) 2014 general election”, an NDTV report said.