Farmers protest outside chief minister’s home

BHOPAL - Normal life was thrown out of gear in Bhopal Monday as around 20,000 farmers protested outside Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s residence to denounce his “government’s indifference” and to demand better value for their crops.

Under the banner of Bharti Kisaan Sangh, the farmers arrived in Bhopal on numerous tractor-trolleys and blocked all the roads leading to the chief minister’s house like Kamla Park Road, Airport Road, Politechnic Chowraha and Chetak Bridge.

These roads also lead to various important government offices and residences of former chief ministers Digvijaya Singh and Uma Bharti.

At Roshanpura crossing, some farmers clashed with the people and damaged vehicles.

Rapid action force (RAF) personnel were deployed to bring the situation under control.

The farmers want better value for their crops and better electricity supply in rural areas.

“Till our demands are not fulfilled, the demonstration will continue,” thundered farmers’ leader Akhilesh Patel.

“Shivraj Singh claims that he is a farmer but he has remained indifferent to our issues,” he said.

The farmers were seen cooking, playing cards and sleeping atop their tractor-trolleys.

With life paralysed in Bhopal, state Agriculture Minister Ram Krishan Kushmaria said the government has already accepted most of the farmers’ demands and it was up to other departments to carry out the work.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan said his administration was looking into the issue.