Who incited farmers' stir? BJP and Congress trade blows, blame each other

In a video that surfaced online, a Congress MLA was seen asking people to burn an MP police station

The Congress on Saturday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for unnecessarily blaming it for inciting farmers’ protest in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh (MP). The incident came to light after Congress leaders were caught on camera purportedly encouraging party workers and farmers to burn down a police station in Madhya Pradesh.

Farmers in both states have been demanding better prices for their produce and waiver of loans.

In a video that surfaced online, Congress' Shivpuri Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Shakuntala Khatik was apparently seen repeatedly inciting people to accompany her to burn down the nearby police station. As Khatik, allegedly, incited the mob, a police official was seen requesting the MLA to calm down.

The video had first made its way to the internet three days after six farmers were killed in a police firing in Mandsaur, where a curfew was later imposed.

The chaos that followed was further aggravated as Rahul Gandhi was detained on Thursday while trying to reach Mandsaur and later released.

BJP leader S Prakash accused the Congress of “stooping low and staging a violent protest, merely for the sake of votes”. He demanded Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi to apologise for the irresponsible behaviour of his partymen.

Congress lashes out at BJP

The Congress said it could not be blamed as the saffron party was ordering the police to open fire at the farmers. “Why will the Congress spoil the situation in Madhya Pradesh when the BJP is ordering the police to open fire at the farmers and kill them,” Congress leader P L Punia told ANI. 

“This allegation has rightly proved that the government does not consider the farmers, poor and the Dalits as a priority in the country,” Congress leader Punia said.

Further lashing out at the Centre, another Congress leader P C Chacko said nothing had been done in support of the farmers so far.

Madhya Pradesh Congress spokesperson Arun Yadav said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan did not have any right to hold his position as he had blood on his hands. He continued to say that his party “follows the vision of Mahatma Gandhi.”

BJP blames Congress 

“I request the government to immediately arrest the miscreants and book them under relevant Acts to ensure normalcy in Madhya Pradesh,” BJP's Prakash, quoted earlier, said. “Certain Congress elements who are instigating violence and appealing the mob to set the police station on fire have been caught on camera red-handed.”

Shivraj Singh Chouhan to go on an indefinite fast

Chouhan on Saturday started an indefinite fast for the restoration of peace in his state, which has been on the boil since the killing of six farmers in police firing in Mandsaur.

Maintaining that the government would be dealing with the miscreants with an iron fist, Chauhan said his fast was an attempt to ensure peace was restored in the state.