Congress MLAs begin hunger strike in MP Assembly

Demand immediate compensation to farmers, bonus on wheat

Intensifying their protest on the issue of compensation for rain and hailstorm-hit farmers, the Congress MLAs on Thursday began an indefinite hunger strike in the well of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly.

The House is not in session but a day-long session was called on March 24 and since then, Congress MLAs are observing sit-in strike as they expressed dissatisfaction over the reply of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on the issue of relief to farmers affected by unseasonal rainfall and hailstorm. Speaker Sitasharan Sharma had, however, adjourned the House sine-die same day.

The protest entered the third day today with Congress members showing no sign of relenting on the issue.

Talking to reporters outside the Assembly gate, Leader of Opposition Satyadev Katare said, "The party MLAs have begun the hunger strike since morning in protest against the BJP government for not fulfilling our demand of providing relief to farmers affected by the unseasonal rains and hailstorm."

When asked how will he be able to observe fast as he suffered injuries after a fall in the Assembly premises last night, Katare said as the party legislators were participating in the protest, he too decided to go for it. He said that they will continue with their agitation and not budge on the issue till their demands are not fulfilled.

Katare also challenged the government to try removing them from the Assembly.

At present, nearly 30 MLAs are taking part in the protest and all others have been directed to reach Bhopal soon, the LoP said.

Katare also said that only the Congress MLAs were called to Bhopal and not the party workers.

Congress members have been staging a sit-in since March 24 evening in the well of the House even after the Assembly session was adjourned sine die by Speaker Dr Sitasharan Sharma.