On the second day of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s fast, he swore to solve farmers’ problems. And he also ensured that he would take stern actions against the culprits. Last night, the families of four of the 6 farmers, who were killed in the police firing in Mandsaur, met Mr Chouhan and urged him to call off his fast.
“The families met me and told me that ‘you don’t need to fast’. They asked me to visit their village. We will do all we can do for them. We will decide the further course of action tomorrow,” he said.
Notably, the state remained comparatively peaceful yesterday and if peace continues to prevail today, the Chief Minister might end his fast by afternoon.
The CM said this morning, I have always tried to everything possible to help the farmers. Their problems are ours. They are our own.”
In an emotional appeal to the farmers, he said, “Your labour won’t go waste,” he told them and added, “I know of the bumper crop production that has sent the prices crashing down in the state. I know your (farmers) problems,”
He announced that the state government will buy their farm produce and give profitable prices to farmers. He is also believed to be considering waiving interest on farm loans, which could benefit over six lakh farmers at a cost of around 2,000 crores to the taxpayer.
At least 5 protesting farmers were killed in an open firing on Tuesday after which Mandsaur has been in a state of unrest. Furious farmers raided and set aflame a police outpost after the firing. This is when the authority clamped curfew on Pipalia town, the nucleus of violence, rushed extra forces. The farmers’ protest started last week in Mandsaur over demand for better prices for their produce and debt relief.
Those instigating violence would not be spared, Mr Chouhan said and promised action against culprits. “Justice will be done and the culprits would be punished,” he said.
