Today in Politics: Will farmers call off stir — all eyes on their talks with Centre; SC set for electoral bonds verdict

Amid the protesting farmers’ march to Delhi, a team of three Union ministers is set to hold a meeting again with the farm leaders over their various demands on Thursday evening in Chandigarh.

The central government invited the farmer leaders for a third round of talks in a week after two such meetings organised on February 8 and 12 remained inconclusive, following which the agitating farmers took the decision to march to Delhi. As barricades come up around Delhi, guarding all borders, and with the farmers ready to step up their agitation, the outcome of the talks will be closely watched and analysed.

The offer for talks from the BJP-ruled Centre came when protesting farmers were at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders of Punjab and Haryana with their “Dilli Chalo” call to press for various demands, including a law on minimum support price (MSP) for crops as well as loan waivers.

The farmer leaders said they would not make any fresh attempt to move towards Delhi till the third round of meeting is held, adding that the next course of action will be decided on the basis of the Centre’s proposals.

On Wednesday, over 40 farmers who had gathered at the Datta Singhwala-Khanauri border between Punjab and Haryana to make their way to the national capital received injuries after Haryana Police used rubber bullets, teargas and water cannons to disperse them. The border had also witnessed clashes between the Haryana Police and the farmers from Punjab for nearly two hours on Tuesday.

Sarwan Singh Pandher, the leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), which is spearheading the agitation along with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), and other farm leaders will meet Union Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food &