Demands not met: Farmers scuffle with cops after talks with Madhya Pradesh govt
Farmers and police briefly came face to face in Bhopal on Wednesday night after talks between the Madhya Pradesh government and farmer representatives ended, with
Farmers and police briefly came face to face in Bhopal on Wednesday night after talks between the Madhya Pradesh government and farmer representatives ended, with protesters attempting to move forward despite repeated appeals from police to remain calm. A minor scuffle broke out as police used loudspeakers to urge the farmers to maintain peace. The tense scenes unfolded shortly after a three-hour meeting between the state government and farmer representatives, following which the government announced a series of concessions, including a sharp increase in procurement of moong at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Read Full Story Addressing a press conference, Farmer Welfare Minister Aidal Singh Kansana said the state had decided to increase MSP procurement from 25% to 60% of each eligible farmer's moong produce after discussions with farmer representatives. He said the decision would benefit farmers in districts such as Narmadapuram, Sehore and Harda, where the revised procurement works out to around three quintals per acre, and would be implemented with immediate effect.
The government also extended the slot booking deadline by 10 days, allowing farmers to register until August 10 instead of July 30. The last date for procurement has similarly been extended from August 10 to August 20. Kansana said complaints over the fertiliser e-token system would be examined by a high-level committee headed by the Chairman of the Chief Minister's Agricultural Production Commission. Until the review is completed, the e-token system for fertiliser distribution has been suspended with immediate effect.
Despite the announcements, protesting farmers said the government had failed to address all of their demands. "The government has given us a lollipop. Our demands have not been fully accepted. The agitation will continue," a farmer leader said. Ends
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