MP Farmers’ Protest: CM Shivraj Calls off Fast After 24 Hrs
Farmers’ organisations have been demanding loan waivers and better minimum support prices for farm produce.
- Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh’s ends his ‘peace’ fast
- Congress, on Saturday, demanded Chouhan’s resignation over deaths of farmers in Mandsaur
- Another farmer succumbed to injuries, taking death toll of farmers killed in police firing in Mandsaur to six
- 27 people were arrested for alleged stone-pelting near Bhopal
- Tension escalated in Mandsaur on 6 June after five farmers were killed in police firing
With no fresh case of violence, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh on Sunday called off his fast for farmers, a day after he began the exercise, and declared that peace has returned to the state.
Chouhan, who faced heat over the violent farmer unrest in MP, broke his fast with a glass of coconut water offered by former state chief minister Kailash Joshi.
Before breaking his fast, the chief minister said, "Peace has been restored in MP and no case of violence has been reported yesterday(Saturday) and today(Sunday)."
He said that those involved in the death of five farmers in Mandsaur will be punished severely.
"I will not end my fast till peace is restored in the state," Chouhan had said on Saturday evening after the protest by farmers was marred by violence in the state.
The CM, reaching out to cultivators, also met 15 delegations of small farmers and 236 panels of big farmers yesterday. The delegations pressed for loan waiver and "satisfactory" prices for their produce.
BJP state president Nandkumar Singh Chauhan had claimed that the family members of those killed in police firing at Mandsaur on Tuesday have requested the CM to call off his fast.
Kin of four out of the five persons killed in police firing on Tuesday at Mandsaur--the epicentre of the farmers' stir – had met Chouhan.
They had come down from Mandsaur seeking justice for the deceased.
Shivraj Chouhan Ends His 'Peace' Fast
New Initiative to Provide Farmers With Info: CM
Speaking at the Dussehra Maidan, Chouhan on Sunday said the government will introduce a new initiative called ‘State Land Use Advisory Service’ for farmers to receive correct and timely information.
CM's Fast Enters Day 2
Shivraj Singh Chouhan continues with his fast for a second day at Dussehra Maidan in Bhopal on Sunday.
While speaking to ANI, Chouhan said that he slept “intermittently” and was constantly pondering over farmers’ issues.
On Saturday, he met with the kin of four farmers who were killed in the Mandsaur police firing. The families urged the Chief Minister to end his fast. He also interacted with farmer representatives.
Farmers' Hopeful For 'Pro-Farmer' Decision
Farmers thronged Dussehra Maidan on Saturday to meet Chouhan and expressed hope for a ‘pro-farmer’ decision.
Mandsaur Peaceful, Curfew Relaxed for 12 Hours
Mandsaur, the epicentre of the farmers' agitation in Madhya Pradesh, remained peaceful with authorities relaxing curfew for 12 hours from 8 am to 8 pm.
As the situation eased, markets reopened and locals stepped out to stock essentials such as vegetables and milk.
District Collector OP Srivastava said normalcy was returning and there was no report of any untoward incident.
Congress Workers Protest in Bhopal
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's indefinite fast at Dussehra Maidan is just “drama,” Congress leaders said, as some party workers took to the streets to protest.
Chouhan Sits On A Fast 'For Restoration of Peace'
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan sat down on an indefinite fast at Dussehra Maidan in Bhopal for "restoration of peace".
The state has seen violent protests since 1 June, after farmers’ organisations took to the streets to demand loan waivers and increased minimum support prices.
Clad in kurta-pajama and a Nehru jacket, Chouhan sat on fast at a pandal erected at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited's Dussehra Maiden at around 11 am after former chief minister Kailash Joshi put a 'tilak' on his forehead.
Chouhan's wife Sadhana was by his side.
Congress Demands Chouhan's Resignation
The Congress on Friday demanded the resignation of Chouhan and his home minister over the deaths of six farmers in Mandsaur in police firing.
Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi dubbed the BJP governments at the Centre and state as "Band, Baaja, Bullet" regimes that responded to protesting farmers with bullets instead of providing them remunerative prices for their produce.
Accusing BJP's state and central governments of being "insensitive" towards farmers and their plight, Chaturvedi said this is the reason why farmers were agitating in states like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
She was quoted as saying:
Chouhan Announces Fast, Invites Agitating Farmers for Talks
Chouhan said, on 9 June, that the farmers' agitation has turned "anarchic", and announced that he will sit on an indefinite fast for restoration of peace.
"I will sit on indefinite fast from Saturday 11 am at Dussehra Maidan for restoration of peace," a visibly upset Chouhan said at a hurriedly convened press conference at his official residence.
However, he categorically said that all unruly elements would be dealt with strictly.
"I am deeply saddened that stones are being placed in the hands of young people aged 18, 21 and 22 by some persons during attempts to stage road blockades. It is painful that these young people are our own and the elements leading them are also our own," he said.
Also Read: In MP’s Shujalpur Mandi, Scars of Notebandi & Farmers’ Agitation
(With inputs from news agencies)
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