Bhopal: Intensifying their protest on fourth day of stir, farmers distributed vegetables free of cost to public in Neelbad instead of supplying to Nav Bahar Sabbji mandi and dumped their vegetables on road. Milk collection is already drastically reduced in the cities.
Farmers continued to block the supply of vegetables and fruits in cities. The farmers plan to intensify their protest from Tuesday. Retail prices of vegetables in several cities have risen since Saturday, a day after the farmers began their strike. Prices have increased many folds.
Sanjay Kushwah said, “It is better to distribute vegetables to public instead of dumping on road as mark of protest. We did not supply to mandi. It is our solidarity at this crucial juncture of agitation.” Abdul Rahman Baboo Bhai, mandi agent said, “There is short supply of vegetables in mandi. Only local farmers brought vegetables to the mandi. Situation is the worst in Bhopal where entire mechanism of the mandi has been paralysed due to farmers strike. Government is supposed to intervene into matter to settle the issues.”
The 10-day gaon bandh (rural shutdown) farmer protest is called ahead of the first anniversary of the killing of several farmers in police firing in Mandsaur in MP on June 6 last year during a similar stir which sections of farmers supported in Rajasthan as well. The protest started on Friday demanding loan waiver, higher prices for their produce and immediate implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report on farming.
Congress alleges police conspiracy
The Congress party has alleged that MP police are planning to impose fake actions against the Congressmen to banish their political presence from a region or districtin the view of upcoming elections. The IG informed that no instructions of such action is been released by the PHQ and importantly no list is been prepared to banish the Congressmen during the elections.
