In a show of strength, over a thousand farmers from across the State, along with activists of the Krushak Chhatra Sangathan and many voluntary and civil society organisations poured into the lower PMG here on Tuesday to participate in the civil disobedience movement (Jail Bharo Andolan) at the call of the Navanirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS) to press their demands for bettering conditions of the peasants.
The farmers marched towards the State Assembly in groups from various directions, near the Idcol Auditorium, AG Square and PMG Square. A large number of police personnel, including the Commissioner of Police took positions near the Assembly to counter the agitators.
The stretch from Housing Board to AG Square and also all connecting stretches to the Sachivalaya Marg was blocked for hours by the cops to prevent any untoward incident in front of the Assembly and the Secretariat, putting the passersby in a tizzy.
The agitation of the farmers started with taking out of a huge procession from Master Canteen Square at around 12.30 pm.
The farmers tried to enter the Assembly from various directions but were detained by the police near the Idcol Auditorium, AG Square and PMG Square. As police tried to stop them, they had a scuffle with the cops. Commissioner of Police YB Khurania rushed to the spot and managed to pacify the agitators.
Farmers under the NKS banner have been staging a dharna at the lower PMG for the last 11 days demanding social security, pension and remunerative prices for their produces. On Tuesday, as announced earlier, they staged the civil disobedience stir protesting the gross apathy of the State Government.
Hundreds of farmers were taken into preventive custody after they attempted to gatecrash into the Assembly.
NKS State convenor Akshaya Kumar, who is on fast for last 12 days, said the civil disobedience movement of the farmers was quite successful.
“The State Government has now come to know that the farmers have an association and it is bound to acknowledge its presence,” he said.
The ruling BJD had tried its best to persuade the farmers’ leaders not to resort to a massive agitation.
On Monday, as many as seven senior BJD MlAs had visited the dharna site here but failed to persuade the farmers to withdraw the scheduled stir.
Unprecedented security arrangements were made for the Chief Minister in view of the agitation as the farmer leaders had blocked the carcade of the CM on an earlier occasion demanding his intervention in ending the plights of the farmers.
The farmers have long been demanding payment of compensation to the families of farmers who have committed suicide, provision of Rs 5,000-pension for farmers, better procurement facilities, higher minimum support price, better social recognition and drought compensation, among others. They are also blaming the Government for its audacity in not admitting the cases of farmers’ suicide.