Mandsaur Firing: Cong Govt Defies Rahul Gandhi’s Poll Promise

Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Mandsaur. (File Photo)

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/Congress)

Two months after forming the government, the Madhya Pradesh Congress government on Monday, 18 February, took a U-turn from Rahul Gandhi’s poll promise “to probe and ensure punishment to the Mandsaur Police firing culprits, if voted to power.”

On Monday, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bala Bachchan, in his written reply to MLA Harsh Gehlot in the Assembly, said:

“On 6 June 2017, police firing at Bahi Chaupati on Mhow-Neemuch Road in the absence of executive magistrate, was done by complying to SOP for self-defence. It was to protect government and private property.”

Six Farmers Killed in 2017 During Protests

In June 2017, farmers had held state-wide protests in Madhya Pradesh, demanding better prices for their crops. The agitation was marred by violence in many parts of the state, especially in Mandsaur, which emerged as the epicentre of protests.

On 6 June, six farmers fell pray to police firing in Mandsaur district.

In 2018, Congress President Rahul Gandhi had met the family members of deceased farmers and promised them justice. Later, he shared the dais with them and promised to deliver justice while addressing the massive ‘Kisan rally’ at Khokhra (Pipliya Mandi) in Mandsaur.

Rahul Gandhi had said, “Even after one year, there hasn't been an inquiry on the Mandsaur police firing. The families of the farmers who were killed are still waiting for justice. We will probe the matter and punish the culprits, if voted to power."

Even after coming to power in the state, Congress Minister Jitu Patwari said, “Those who fired at the farmers in Mandsaur shouldn’t be spared.” He had also said that Congress government will “reopen the Mandsaur investigation”.

However, on Monday, Home Minister Bala Bachchan informed the House that “it was done to control the violent mob. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Shravan Bhandari, following the legal process, had ordered for fire.”

Investigation Report Gives Clean Chit to Cops

Retired Justice JK Jain, who had conducted the probe in the matter, has already submitted the report to the government months ago and gave a clean chit to the police, however, the government has not released the report yet.

Referring to the Justice Jain report, Bachchan said, “The report is being reviewed and appropriate legal action will be taken after examining the findings.” The Jain report had mentioned “communication gap” between farmers and officials.

“The administration wasn’t aware of their demands and did not make any effort to find out. But, the district administration wasn’t in a position to address demands that farmers should get better prices or a loan waiver. Thus, police firing on 6 June was necessary and legal,” the report said.

Bachchan’s reply has given clean chit to the police in firing incident.

Kin and Farmers’ Feeling Cheated

The kin of deceased farmers, injured and farmers’ leader feeling cheated after newly formed Congress government’s clean chit in the Mandsaur firing.

“Rahul Gandhi has promised for the justice and punish the offenders when he came to meet us in Mandsaur. He also announced from the stage that his government will re-investigate the case, if voted to power.”

Madhusudhan Patidar, brother of deceased farmer

“Now, he, too is turning his back. It seems that we have lost the only hope for justice,” said Madhusudhan Patidar, elder brother of deceased Kanhaiyalal Patidar.

While another kin Abhishek Patidar said, “We believed that Congress president Rahul Gandhi will not run from his own promises and we hoped for the justice but here we are. It seems that we have been cheated.”

Farmer leader Amritlal Patidar, who was the main accused in the Madsaur farmers’ protest said, “BJP’s attempt to put the matter under the carpet has succeeded. Congress’ u-turn is unpredictability and shameful. The last hope of justice has died down.”

During the election, Congress had attacked BJP relentlessly on Mandsaur firing during campaign for assembly polls. After the about-turn on Monday, BJP demanded a public apology.

BJP said, “It was Congress’s planned propaganda to attack BJP over the farmer issue. They misguided farmers and the entire country during assembly elections,” said BJP state spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal.

Gandhi had also announced a farm loan waiver of Rs 2 lakh and emphasised that Congress never makes hollow promises and keeps their word. However, after forming the government, the Kamal Nath-led Congress government took a u-turn, defying Congress president’s promise.

(Kashif Kakvi is a Bhopal-based freelance journalist. He can be reached @KashifKakvi.)