MP Farmers' stir: Violence in Dhar, supply to mandis affected

The agitation of farmers in western Madhya Pradesh on the second day today was marred by violence in Dhar district with mandis at some places not receiving fresh stocks of vegetables and grains, affecting prices.
Six motorcycles were torched at Sardarpur town in Dhar district this morning and two shops were damaged after the agitating farmers clashed with shopkeepers.
The agitators wanted the shops to remain closed, said Superintendent of Police Virendra Singh.
"Following the argument, six motorcycles belonging to farmers were burnt, while two shops were damaged. Situation is under control now," he said.
Meanwhile, the BJP government in the state appealed farmers to end the agitation amid reports that farmers stopped supply of milk, food grains and vegetables in several parts of the western Madhya Pradesh.

Main grievance of the farmers is lack of remunerative prices for agricultural goods.

The protest has affected Indore, Ujjain, Dewas, Jhabua, Neemuch and Mandsaur districts of the state.
The protest has also hit supply of vegetables and milk in Indore and other cities.
Finance Minister Jayant Malaiya today held a meeting with representatives of farmers at Residency Kothi in Indore.
"Some of their concerns are genuine. I have requested them to end the stir," Malaiya later told PTI.
"I have told the farmers that they can meet the chief minister directly to discuss their problems. The BJP government has taken several steps for farmers' welfare. Previous governments did not take even 10 per cent of these steps," he said.

The farmers submitted a 20-point charter of demands to the minister.
They have demanded implementation of Swaminathan Committee report including fixing of minimum support price (MSP) of vegetables like potatoes, onion, etc, prohibiting purchase of agricultural produce below the MSP by mandis, stopping of acquisition of multi-crop agricultural lands and checking of increasing prices of farm equipment and machinery.
After meeting Malaiya, MP Kisan Sena secretary Jagdish Rawalia said the state government should make some concrete announcements on their demands.
"We will consider the minister's appeal to end the stir only after announcements by the state. Otherwise the agitation would continue till June 10," Rawalia told PTI.

Meanwhile, very little food grains reached Mandsaur mandi today.
"Generally, 20,000-30,000 sacks of food grains arrive here every day in this season. The farmers are paid about Rs 7 to 8 crore every day. But hardly one quintal of grain has come here since yesterday," Mandsaur Krishi Upaj Mandi's secretary M S Munia said.
Mandsaur collector Swantantra Kumar said farmers who are bringing produce for sale would get protection.
"We are ensuring that supply continues. Farmers can complain immediately if they are facing obstructions," he said.
Prices of vegetables have gone up in Mandsaur, reports said.
In Agar Malwa district, unidentified persons emptied cans containing 150 litres of milk at a chilling centre on Indore- Kota road before the police drove them away, said local police officer Avnish Shrivastava.

The vegetable market in state capital Bhopal was hit by the stir. "No fresh stock arrived today. This has slightly affected the prices," Mohammed Asif, onion and garlic trader, told PTI.
Vice president of MP Fruit Vegetable Traders Federation Kamal Shejwar however claimed that the agitation would not affect the prices.
"Ninety-nine percent of vegetables in Bhopal come from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. So this agitation would not affect the supply," Shejwar added.
Incidentally, farmers in neighbouring Maharashtra too have launched an agitation, blocking supply of veggies and milk to cities since yesterday.