• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Thousands of farmers from across MP are stationed at the Narmadapuram Highway after they were stopped from marching to the CM's residence.
  2. MP CM Mohan Yadav today announced a ministerial committee for talks with the protesting farmers.
  3. The farmers are demanding 100% procurement of the moong crop at the MSP and related issues.

Bhopal Farmers Protest: A massive clash broke out between farmers and the police on the Narmadapuram highway after they were stopped from marching towards the residence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in Bhopal. The protesting farmers breached the barricading and climbed over a bus, raising slogans against the state government. The agitation disrupted traffic on the busy Narmadapuram highway.

Thousands of farmers from across Madhya Pradesh gathered in the state capital, Bhopal, on Tuesday and launched a protest, which continued overnight. The farmers are demanding 100% procurement of the moong crop at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and related issues. The MP government held talks with the protesting farmers, but the discussions remained inconclusive.

The protesters attempted to march towards the chief minister's residence but were stopped by police, following which Agriculture Minister Kansana held preliminary discussions with farmer leaders.

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(Image Credits: PTI)

MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday, meanwhile, announced that a panel of ministers has been formed to hold another round of talks with protesting farmers and expressed confidence of finding a solution.

"A committee has been formed to communicate with them. Yesterday, we sent our Agriculture Minister Aidal Singh Kansana to hold talks with them. Even today, Kansana and ministers Krishna Gaur, Vishwas Sarang and Rakesh Singh along with officials will hold a dialogue with the farmers," Mohan Yadav said, as quoted by PTI.

"The government always stood with the farmers with positive suggestions. But both sides should also ensure that people should not suffer. Therefore, we will find out the solution to the problem through dialogue and we hope that our all farmers organisations, like Bharatiya Kisan Sangthan and others, will find a way out. When we talk about people's welfare, obviously it also means betterment of farmers," the CM added.

During the talks on Tuesday, the MP government assured the protesting farmers that their legitimate demands will be considered and "necessary action would be taken to resolve all issues".

"Productive discussions were held on the farmers' key demands, especially those related to the procurement of moong (green gram). The interests of farmers will be fully taken care of," MP Agriculture Minister said.

However, despite the assurance, a large number of farmers remained on the streets through the night to press their demands.

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(Image Credits: PTI)

After discussions, Kansana wrote a letter to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, requesting an increase in the summer moong procurement target. In the letter, he said that to ensure farmers get better prices and remain interested in pulse production in the future, it is necessary to give them maximum benefit of the MSP, which will not be possible with the target limit given by the central government.

Madhya Pradesh is the country's largest moong producer and the central government has set a quota of 4.54 lakh metric tons of moong for the state in 2025-26. However, only 2 per cent of the stipulated quota has been procured as of July 16, Nath claimed in a statement. Farmers, as a result, are being forced to sell moong at throwaway prices.

The farmers' key demands include 100 per cent moong procurement at minimum support price (MSP), resolution of problems with the e-token system, and timely and reasonable availability of fertilisers.

ALSO READ: Why Farmers Are Protesting In Madhya Pradesh? What's Their Key Demands

Traffic on the Narmadapuram road -- connecting Narmadapuram with state capital Bhopal -- was completely disrupted due to the protest, causing jams in surrounding areas. The administration has also declared a holiday for schools in the surrounding areas, and heavy security was deployed at the site.

Wielding the tricolour and shouting "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" and anti-government slogans, the farmers arrived in Bhopal on Tuesday with tractor-trolleys carrying water and food.

 

(With Agency Inputs)


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