Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday reached out to protesting farmers inviting them for talks to iron out the differences as Madsaur reels under violent protest by farmers over demands for cost-based returns for their produce.
"The State Government is always ready for talks with farmers. I appeal to the farmers to maintain calm. Only talks can end the differences. The State Government is of farmers and public. I will continue to work for them," the Chief Minister said while addressing a press conference in Bhopal.
"From 11am tomorrow I'll sit at Dussehra Maidan. People may come and discuss things with me. I will fast to bring about peace," he said.
न बल्लभ भवन, न सीएम हाउस में काम करूँगा, बल्कि भोपाल के भेल दशहरा मैदान में काम करते हुए अनिश्चितकालीन अनशन करूंगा: श्री @ChouhanShivraj pic.twitter.com/BFyGQrfWP1
— CMO Madhya Pradesh (@CMMadhyaPradesh) June 9, 2017
Under criticism over the death of five agitating farmers in the police firing in Mandsaur, CM Chouhan announced to sit on an indefinite fast from tomorrow till peace is restored.
"I have decided to sit on an indefinite fast from tomorrow. It will continue till the time peace is restored in MP," Chouhan told a press conference here. His fast at Dussehra Maidan in Bhopal will begin from 11 AM tomorrow where he will be holding an open 'durbar' for farmers to meet him.
"I request people to come up to me with their problems...We have always been open to discussion. S, I have decided from tomorrow I will be listening to grievances in-person," the chief minister said.
The Chief Minister said the state government has taken a slew of measures in farmers' interest like procuring one kg of onion for Rs 8. Negative elements will be dealt with strongly. Establishing law and order is our priority. Some people have handed over stones to youth," the CM added.
"Tur, Moong and Urad will be purchased from the same center. At least 80 centers have been set up by the government. From June 30 onwards, it will be possible to buy from one to 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of tur pulse," he said.
"The state government will buy onion at the rate of Rs 8 from the farmers and will provide it to the poor customers in PDS shops at rate of Rs 2. In the interest of farmers, the state government has decided not to import pulses so that farmers can get their full yield. Also, the price of pulses will not be allowed to fall in any aspect," the CM said.
"The Chief Minister has directed that the selection and placement of procurement centers for Kharif crops should be done in advance so that there is no delay in procurement," he said.
"On the demand of farmers, we have decided that they will not be given loan separately for Kharif and Rabi crops," the Chief Minister announced during the conference.
Appealing the protesting farmers to maintain calm, the Chief Minister said, "Instigators have put stones in hands of young people. We won't compromise on security. I appeal for peace. Let's sit and talk."
Meanwhile, the violence-hit Madhya Pradesh districts continued to be on the boil as the protesters blocked the Bhopal-Indore highway, burnt vehicles and clashed with the police today.
Farmers` groups started gathering at the Sehore toll plaza on the highway early today. They erected barricades and stopped the traffic, causing a severe jam and inconvenience to the hundreds of commuters.
The protesters damaged the toll plaza property and even set some vehicles on fire.
When the police tried to stop them, the unruly mob resorted to stone pelting, prompting the police to resort to lathicharge and burst teargas shells.
The call for the road blockade was given on Thursday by farmer leaders, who were later arrested by the police. This in turn angered the protesters further.
The farmers, who started their 10-day protest on June 1 to press the demand for loan waivers and fair prices for their produce, turned violent after five farmers were killed on June 6 in a police firing in Mandsaur.
The violent protest had spread to neighbouring districts of Neemuch, Indore, Khargone, Ujjain, Shahjanhanpur, Sehore, Raisen and Harda in the last few days.
"The situation is under control," said Bhopal (North) Police Superintendent Arvind Saxena.
The state government yesterday conveyed to the Centre that five farmers were killed in Mandsaur in police firing, ending the confusion on who had fired at the protesters.
In a report submitted to the Union Home Ministry, the State Government said the protesting farmers, demanding loan waiver, had allegedly set ablaze 25 trucks and two police vans along the Mhow-Neemuch highway on Tuesday; police tried to control the mob with a lathicharge and then by lobbing tear gas, it said.
