Shivraj Singh Chauhan and his wife Sadhna Chauhan on his side sat on an indefinite fast on Saturday for the restoration of peace in Madhya Pradesh. The chief minister requested the farmer to come and talk with him in person and he is ready for the open discussion to solve the problem at Dussehra Maidan in Bhopal. On the second day, he is likely to meet farmer of his states witnessing agrarian unrest and chair a meeting of the government official at the Maidan where he is sitting on fast.
In the last ten days, farmers resorted to violence during their stir for various demands, better prices for their produce, including a waiver on loan payments. The state government faced criticism because for the police firing that killed five protesting farmers and some protesters injured, triggering large-scale arson and rioting in Mandsaur district. He said that the agitation had turned anarchic and appealed the protester to come to him and have a dialogue with him. He also added that the huge crop production that has sent the price crashing down in the state, and assured that the state government has decided to buy different varieties of pulses at Minimum Support Price (MSP) and allow the supply of vegetables, milk and others essentials to various markets in the states and promised profitable price to farmers for their produce.
Meanwhile, in a dramatic development in the Saturday evening, the chief minister meet many of farmers along with the kin of four out of the five farmers killed in police firing on June 6 in Mandsaur district. According to a BJP (Bhartiya Janta Party) leader, the kin of the deceased farmers have urged their chief minister to end his fast and seek justice against those who are responsible for the killing of their loved ones are brought to book. An Organization of farmers said that they will continue the agitation till their demands are met after they failed to reach a compromise with the state government.
The opposition Congress dubbed his fast as a drama and accused his so-called fast of the act of repentance of his misdeeds that sets the state on fire. State Congress chief representative KK Mishra said that Chauhan is trying to send a message to the state that he doing a Gandhian way protest, which is absolutely not so.
Mr. Chauhan has assured that the state authorities would firmly deal with those trying to disturb the peace of his states and reiterated that his government was willing to help the farmers in distress. He also said that he will continue his fast till peace restored in the state.
