On 4th September 2023, the kisan organisations and the Punjab government met in Chandigarh’s Punjab Bhavan to discuss the demands placed before the central government. Prior to this, on 22nd August in Chandigarh, 16 kisan organisations from the five states in north India announced a protest in support of their demands. The police lathi charged the demonstrators, arrested several kisan leaders; one kisan died in the course of these events. Following this, the talks were organised between the 16 kisan organisations and the Punjab, Haryana and central governments.
Kisan-Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee-Punjab, BKU Ekta (Azad), BKU Krantikari, Azad Kisan Union-Haryana, BKU Behram, BKU Shahid Bhagat Singh-Haryana, BKU Sir Chotu Ram, Kisan Mahapanchayat-Haryana, Pagadi Sambalo Jatta, Pragatisheel Kisan Morcha-UP and Rashtriya Kisan Sangh-Himachal participated in the discussion.
During these talks, the kisan organisations made their demand for a compensation of Rs.50,000 crore to affected states for the damage suffered due to floods. Besides this, the kisans demanded guarantee of MSP, assurance of 200 days’ work under MNREGA and cancellation of police cases registered against kisans during the kisan andolan at Delhi’s borders in 2020. However, there was no satisfactory response to these demands from the government.
The kisan organisations have now announced a three-day rail roko (blocking of trains) starting 28th September. The kisans also demanded full write-off of debts of agricultural workers and implementation of Swaminathan Commission report.
Further meeting of the16 kisan organisations with the government was announced for 11th September in Chandigarh.