"Farmers must meet Agricultural Minister": BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Chandni Chowk, Praveen Khandelwal on Saturday reaffirmed that the central government has taken steps for the development of agricultural sectors and said that the farmers must meet Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to put forward their needs.
He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi various steps for the development of the agricultural sector.
Speaking with ANI, Khandelwal said, "We all know that in our country, the one who has respected farmers the most is PM Modi. From time to time, PM Modi and govt of India have taken various steps for the development of the agricultural sector. If there is still something left, farmers must meet the Agricultural Minister and other govt officials and put forward their needs."
On Friday, farmers launched 'Delhi Chalo' march, demanding a legal guarantee or MSP on crops from the central government. They were stopped at the Sambhu border by police which used tear gas shells to disperse the protestors. Several farmers were reportedly injured during the protest.
Earlier in the day, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi condemned the police action on farmers during their 'Delhi Chalo' march, calling it an "inhumane use of force."
In a post on X, Kanmozhi urged the central government to "immediately engage with farmer representatives, and address their demands without delay."
Additionally, Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher expressed his disappointment, stating that the central government is unwilling to engage in talks with the farmers.
Emphasising the lack of "positive initiative" from the central government to resolve farmers' demands, Pandher informed that 20 farmers were injured in tear gas shelling by police at the Sambhu border to halt their 'Delhi Chalo' march.
Speaking with ANI, Pandher said, "The central government is not in the mood to talk to the farmers. We can't see any positive initiative to peacefully solve the issue from their side."
"20 farmers have been injured. 14 farmers have gone to Hospital, 2 were seriously injured, and one was referred to Patiala. This is the condition here," he added.
On Friday, Pandher announced that a group of 101 farmers will march towards Delhi on December 8 at 12 noon if the Union Government does not engage in talks with them by Saturday.
The protest aims to press for several demands, including compensation and a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP).