2,000 MP farmers breach barricades, march to CM's home, Gen Z protesters join in
More than 2,000 farmers carrying clothes, bedding and enough food to last a week, breached police barricades and entered the outskirts of Madhya Pradesh's capital
More than 2,000 farmers carrying clothes, bedding and enough food to last a week, breached police barricades and entered the outskirts of Madhya Pradesh's capital, Bhopal, on Tuesday night. They now aim to march to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's residence in Bhopal's Shyamala Hills. They are demanding 100% procurement of the moong crop and the abolition of the e-token system, which is meant to facilitate the procurement of farmers' produce and fertiliser distribution. Read Full Story The development comes as Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders met Uttar Pradesh-based farmer leader Rakesh Tikait in New Delhi to discuss the possibility of a joint platform for farmers, students and young people. Tikait is the national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) and led the farmer protests in 2020-2021 to cause repeal of three farmer laws passed by the Centre. Meanwhile, several Gen Z supporters also reached the farmers' protest site to extend their support to the agitation, reported MP Tak, India Today Digital's sister portal. According to a report in Aaj Tak Digital, the farmers, holding the tricolour and shouting slogans like "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" started marching from MP's Narmadapuram district (around 80 km south-east of Bhopal) under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha on Monday. They reached Bhopal's outskirts on Tuesday after an overnight journey. The group has set up camp near Savarkar Bridge, which is approximately 8 km away from CM Yadav's residence. After the farmers reached Bhopal's outskirts, the MP government held its first round of talks that ended without a breakthrough. A ministerial committee has also been formed to hold talks with the protesting farmers and a meeting is expected to be convened by the state government led by Mohan Yadav at 6pm on Wednesday. The Indian Express reported that the farmers overcame several police attempts to stop the march, including by breaching barricades at Sethani Ghat, where the march began, and later at the Mandideep border between Bhopal and Raisen districts.
On Wednesday noon, the protesting farmers remained gathered in Bhopal's Maharana Pratap Nagar and were preparing to march to the chief minister's residence, with many vowing not to return until their demands were met. WHAT ARE THE DEMANDS OF FARMERS PROTESTING IN BHOPAL? According to a report by news agency PTI, the farmers protesting in Bhopal are demanding 100% procurement of moong at Minimum Support Price (MSP) in Madhya Pradesh, a resolution to issues with the e-token system, and timely availability of fertilisers at affordable prices. Unlike other pulses like urad, tur and masur, which the Centre is procuring at 100% MSP, moong continues to be procured under the Price Support Scheme (PSS), under which procurement is capped at 25% of the state's estimated production. According to a report in The Economic Times, Madhya Pradesh recorded a bumper moong harvest this season. With sowing spread across 14.30 lakh hectares and an estimated yield of around 1,410 kg per hectare, farmers are expected to produce nearly 20.16 lakh metric tonnes of moong across the state. However, the Centre has approved procurement of only 4.54 lakh metric tonnes under the PSS. In MP, moong is grown as a summer (zaid) crop, with major production concentrated in districts such as Harda, Narmadapuram, Sehore, Dewas, Raisen, Vidisha, Ujjain, Indore, Dhar, Khandwa and Khargone districts. Aaj Tak Digital reported that farmer organisations have claimed they are suffering significant losses per quintal due to the existing procurement policy. The state government has fixed a procurement limit of 1.2 quintals (120 kg) of moong per acre at MSP. Farmers claim that an average one-acre crop produces around 4-5 quintals of moong, leaving them with a surplus that they have to sell outside the procurement system. The MSP for moong has been fixed at Rs 8,668 per quintal. According to farmers, the remaining produce is often sold in the open market at prices ranging between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000 per quintal, resulting in losses of around Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 per quintal, reported Aaj Tak Digital.
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