Congress demands resignation of Chouhan, MP Minister

Rubbishing charges that it had instigated farmer violence in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress on Friday demanded the resignations of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and state Home Minister Bhupendra Singh for the "cold-blooded killing of six farmers" in police action.

The Congress also said that a "video on the matter was being circulated just to divert attention from the farmers' protest".

"Congress MLA Shakuntala Khatik's (who represents Karera seat in Shivpuri district) video is under question. Her constituency is about 600 km from where the farmers' protest took place.

"This video is being circulated to divert attention. Its authenticity is also questionable. It is being done to divert attention from the main issue," Congress Spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said.

Chaturvedi added: "We condemn this conspiracy hatched by the Bharatiya Janata Party. There is no proof of where and under what circumstances these alleged statements (in the video) were made. No one knows when was the video shot."

The Congress leader said that the party did not support what she allegedly said in the video, or anything being said to incite violence.

"A farmer Ghanshyam Dhakar was killed in a lathicharge yesterday (Thursday). His wife too tried to commit suicide after hearing about his death in Mandsaur. Even in Maharashtra, a similar incident happened when Dhanaji Jadhav of Solapur committed suicide," Chaturvedi said.

"In his suicide note, he had written that his last rites should be performed only after the Maharashtra Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) fulfilled his promise to waive loans. But the Chief Minister didn't have time to visit them."

She said farmers are suffering in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Mahrashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthana, and Haryana.

"This is happening in all states. Farmers are hit by bullets for seeking remunerative prices for their crops and waiving of farm loans," the Congress leader said.

"Whoever is responsible for the killing of six farmers in Madhya Pardesh must be suspended from service and a comprehensive inquiry initiated," she added.

--IANS

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