Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said that the central government and protesting farmers’ union leaders will sit for another round of discussions over the recently passed farm bills. Khattar held a meeting with union minister Narendra Singh Tomar to discuss the ongoing protests.
The protests which have been going on at the Delhi-Haryana border at Singhu has entered its 25th day and the government expects that the solution can only be achieved through discussions between both parties.
“I believe that the talk could be held in the next 2-3 days. A solution to this issue (farmers’ protest) should be found through discussion. I have said that this issue should be resolved soon,” Khattar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Khattar’s meeting with Tomar comes a day after former Union minister and BJP senior leader Chaudhary Birender Singh participated in a protest in Rohtak supporting the demands raised by the farmers.
This is the second meeting between Haryana chief minister and the union agriculture minister. Earlier, both leaders had met on December 8.
The Haryana chief minister also raised the issue of Sutlej-Yamuna link canal. Khattar said, “I appeal to farmers of Punjab to seriously consider SYL (Sutlej Yamuna Link) canal matter. Farmers of Haryana are struggling with a shortage of irrigation. I have raised this issue. We demand that construction of SYL canal should be completed.”
{{/usCountry}}The Haryana chief minister also raised the issue of Sutlej-Yamuna link canal. Khattar said, “I appeal to farmers of Punjab to seriously consider SYL (Sutlej Yamuna Link) canal matter. Farmers of Haryana are struggling with a shortage of irrigation. I have raised this issue. We demand that construction of SYL canal should be completed.”
{{/usCountry}}Earlier on Saturday, BJP leaders from Haryana had observed a fast demanding that Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh should allow Haryana access to its share of river waters. BJP MP Arvind Sharma who was a part of the protests told news agency PTI, “After I became an MP, I raised this issue in Parliament. Punjab should look at the demand of people of Haryana.”
The Sutlej Yamuna link canal is a contentious issue between Punjab and Haryana. While Haryana has been demanding the completion of the canal to get its share of 3.5 million acre feet of water Punjab continues to raise demands of assessment of the volume of water released from rivers Ravi and Beas.