Farmers seem divided after Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s assurances that some of their demands will be met. While a few organisations said they will consider calling off the violence-ridden strike, State president of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Anil Yadav said the agitation will continue.
Yadav said he felt “betrayed” by the CM’s announcement following his meeting with representatives of Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) at Ujjain on Sunday. Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangh national president Shivkumar Sharma, alias Kakkaji, said, “The Government has conspired with BKS to get the strike called off. But the real issues of the farmers are still pending and the strike will continue.”
Farmers stopped trucks and vehicles carrying milk and vegetables from village at several places. In the State capital, full cream milk of Sanchi Dairy was unavailable. Indore is also facing a milk crisis, and a similar situation prevails in Jhabua, Dhar, Shajahanpur and Sehore. The farmers in Harda shaved their heads as a sign of protest.
Chouhan on Sunday met representatives of the Indian Farmers’ Union and agreed to most of the demands, including buying onions at Rs 8 per kg, and paying 50 per cent in cash for produce and depositing the rest in banks, and buying moong at an agreed price.
Though the farmers union postponed the strike, the other organisations continued with the stir. Framers in Ratlam pelted stones and damaged property on Sunday, due to which police lathi charged them.
Police had to lathi charge and use tear gas on protesting farmers in Delanpur, after which the farmers resorted to stone pelting. In the turmoil sub-inspector Pawan Yadav got a severe eye injury. Farmers also set four vehicles on fire.
“The farmers have been cheated. The strikes will continue till the demands have been properly met, including the main ones of loan waiver and fair price for produce,” said State Secretary of the Indian Farmers’ Union Anil Yadav in a statement.
The president of Rashtriya Kisan Majdoor Sangh Shivkumar Sharma organised a rally supporting the farmers on Monday, and announced that “the protest would continue till June 10”.