MP Farmers’ Protest: CM Announces New Fund; AAP to Visit Mandsaur
Five farmers killed in Mandsaur; Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan accuses Congress of instigating violence.
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- Five farmers were killed as protests turned violent in MP’s Mandsaur on Tuesday
- CM Shivraj Chouhan appeals for peace, says govt will implement demands
- Curfew imposed in the district, mobile internet services suspended
- Rahul Gandhi to visit Mandsaur on Thursday
- Instances of violence reported in Ujjain, Dewas, Neemuch and Sehore
- Central forces deployed in Mandsaur
- Aam Aadmi Party delegation to visit Mandsaur on Friday
- Students, farmers protest outside Madhya Pradesh Bhawan in New Delhi
Trains Passing Through Mandsaur Diverted
As tension prevailed in Mandsaur district of western Madhya Pradesh which is on boil due to the farmers' agitation, rail traffic through Mandsaur station today came to a halt.
The district remained tense following the death of five farmers in alleged police firing on Tuesday.
AAP Delegation to Visit Mandsaur
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) condemned the death of farmers in alleged police firing at Mandsaur and accused the BJP-ruled state government of going back on its poll promises for the agriculture sector.
A five-member delegation of the AAP will visit the farmers in Mandsaur on 9 June, Gopal Rai, convenor of the party's Delhi unit, said.
The delegations consists of senior party leaders Sanjay Singh, Ashutosh, Somnath Bharti, Bhagwant Mann and Sadhu Singh. The leaders will interact with the farmers there.
The party has demanded immediate arrest of officials who allegedly opened fire on the agitating farmers, besides waiver of loans of the farmers in the state.
Students, Farmers Protest at Madhya Pradesh Bhawan
Students and farmers' organisations today protested in front of the Madhya Pradesh Bhawan in New Delhi, demanding a judicial enquiry into the killings of six farmers.
The protesters – including members of the JNU Students' Union and the All India Kisan Sabha – demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the dead and Rs 5 lakh for those who were injured in the incident on Tuesday.
Loan waivers and the immediate suspension of police authorities responsible for the act were some of the other demands of the protesters.
All India Kisan Sabha leader Hannan Mollah also took part in the protest.
Anti-riots Personnel Sent to MP
Centre has sent 1,100 anti-riots police personnel to Mandsaur. It has also sought a detailed report over Tuesday's violence and steps taken by the state government to bring back normalcy in the violence-hit area.
According to ANI, the Centre has sent five additional battalions of paramilitary forces while five battalions were already deployed.
Curfew Imposed in Piplia Mandi
Curfew has also been imposed in Piplia Mandi, about 15-km away from violence-stricken Mandsaur, said Deuskar, IG of Law & Order.
He also added that instances of violence have been reported in Ujjain, Dewas, Mandsaur, Neemuch & Sehore.
CM Announces New Fund
The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took to Twitter to announce the starting of Price Stabilisation Fund, worth Rs 1,000 crore. The fund will help farmers in recovering the actual cost of their produce in case they suffer losses.
The CM said that his government is a government of farmers and that they have taken many steps for farmers’ welfare.
Kamal Nath Demands Chouhan's Resignation
Congress leader and MP Kamal Nath has demanded a proper investigation into the matter and has asked for Shivraj Chouhan’s resignation as “it is his responsibility in the end”.
Speaking to Republic TV, Kamal Nath said that farmers are apolitical and are not influenced by any political party. However, he said that "farmers are incited by the policies of the BJP".
Don't Politicise The Matter, Says Piyush Goyal
Minister of State for Power Piyush Goyal, on Wednesday appealed to the political parties to not politicise the matter and that the BJP was sympathetic to the farmer community.
MP Top Cop Admits Police Role: News 18
Madhya Pradesh IG police reportedly told CNN News 18 that the MP police might have been involved in opening fire at the farmers during their protest.
The MP Home Minister Bhupendra Singh on Tuesday had categorically denied the police’s role and that said that “anti-social” elements had opened fire at the farmers.
Rahul Gandhi to Visit Mandsaur on Thursday
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit Madhya Pradesh’s violence-hit Mandsaur district on Thursday to meet the kin of the five persons who were killed in violence during the farmers’ agitation, confirmed Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh.
Rahul Gandhi Denied Permission Alleges Congress
Congress party Deputy General Secretary Mohan Prakash on Wednesday alleged that while Congress Vice-President Rahul gandhi wanted to attend the funeral of a farmer who died during the protest, the local administration denied him the permission to do so.
Passengers of Bhopal-bound Bus Attacked, Vehicles Vandalised
The passengers of a bus going from Indore to Bhopal were attacked by goons, in the name of the farmer protest.
While no passenger was severely injured or killed, police protection was given to the bus following the attack by the goons.
Vehicles were also vandalised in different parts of the state.
Human Rights Commission Takes Cognisance
The Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission took cognisance of the Mandsaur farmer violence and asked the senior officers to submit a report on the incident.
Farmers Fall Prey to 'False Advertisements'
Congress leader AK Singhvi on Wednesday questioned why the Prime Minister had not spoken about the Mandsaur violence yet. Addressing a press conference, Singhvi expressed concern about the state of farmers in the country.
Centre Sends Forces To Mandsaur
The Narendra Modi government on Wednesday sent six companies of central forces, including CRPF and RAF, to Mandsaur to control the spiraling violence in the region.
Vehicles Set Ablaze
The state of Madhya Pradesh is reeling under violence, following the deaths of five farmers during a protest on Tuesday.
Vehicles were set on fire, on Wednesday in Dewas, about 200-km away from Mandsaur, in protest of the killing of farmers.
PM Chairs Mandsaur Meeting
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the Mandsaur violence.
Five cabinet ministers attended the meeting, including the Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Agricultural Minister Radhamohan Singh.
The agricultural minister who was supposed to address the press at 2 pm cancelled the briefing to attend the meeting.
The Home Ministry will be transferring para forces from Bhopal to Mandsaur, reported NewsX.
CM Chouhan Appeals For Peace
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan, in a fresh series of tweets appealed to the farmers to not pay heed to the rumours and maintain peace in the state. He added that he is “always available for a conversation” with the farmers and that his government is working to meet all his demands.
MP Min Announces New Scheme for Farmers
BJP minister Archana Chitnis has said that the farmers’ needs are the MP government’s priority. She announced an agricultural scheme called ‘Krishi Rin Samadhan Yojana’ which will offer loans to farmers at a low interest rate and will also help defaulting farmers to get credit.
She also said that the Krishi Cabinet has approved Rs 1,000 Cr for ‘Krishi Mulya Sthirikaran Kosh’.
Will Go To Mandsaur With Rahul Gandhi: Sharad Yadav
Senior Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav told ANI that though the death toll is said to be at five or six, there could be more victims.
He also said that he met with Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday and the two plan on visiting Mandsaur together.
Mandsaur Incident Unfortunate, Says Chhattisgarh CM
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh called the Mandsaur incident “unfortunate” and added that Shivraj Chouhan has “done a lot of work for farmers”.
10 Vehicles Gutted as Agitation Intensifies
Vehicles parked at a police station in Devas’ Hatpipalya were also set on fire during the agitation.
"Rahul Denied Permit to Visit Deceased Farmers' Village"
Congress General Secretary Mohan Prakash said the district administration has denied permission to Rahul Gandhi who intends to attend the funeral of the farmers. He will not participate in the agitation, Prakash said.
Congress Must Not Politicise Issue: Naidu
Union minister and senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu echoed Shivraj Chouhan’s sentiment that the Congress is behind the violence in Mandsaur.
Farmers Want CM Shivraj to Visit Mandsaur
Protesting farmers got into a scuffle with Mandsaur collector Swantra Singh and the Superintendent of Police on 7 June. They also demanded CM Shivraj Chouhan’s presence in the district.
“There was no order to open fire, I have assured them (farmers) of strict action,”
the collector later told ANI.
Shivraj Speaks to Amit Shah
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has apprised BJP National President Amit Shah of the situation in Mandsaur over phone.
Rahul May Visit Mandsaur Today
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi may visit Mandsaur today, said party sources. He even took to Twitter to lash out at the Centre. He accused the ruling government of being “at war with the farmers of our country”. The BJP-led MP government is feeding them with bullets, he said.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called the incident “unfortunate”.
Who Killed the Farmers?
Five farmers were killed and several others injured on Tuesday in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandsaur district after police allegedly opened fire on peasants, who were on a protest demanding loan waiver and higher Minimum Support Prices (MSPs).
The farmers died en route to a hospital in Indore, police said. Some eyewitnesses alleged that the victims suffered bullet wounds, but Mandsaur district authorities denied that police fired on the protesters.
MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has ordered a judicial probe after holding a meeting with senior civil and police officers. He also announced Rs 1 crore compensation for the kin of the victims and has promised government jobs to one member from each aggrieved family.
Blame Game On
Chouhan blamed the Congress for the violence by farmers while the Congress state unit President Arun Yadav and Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh dubbed it as a failure of the government.
Curfew has also been imposed in Pipalya Mandi police station area of Mandsaur district where the incident took place, while prohibitory orders restricting movement under Section 144 of CrPC have been imposed in the rest of the district, Mandsaur Collector SK Singh said. Mobile internet services were suspended on Tuesday in Mandsaur, Ratlam and Neemuch districts to check spread of rumours.
(With inputs from agencies)
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