Farmers’ strike has taken a violent turn in Madhya Pradesh. So far, the death toll rose to six as one more person, identified as Ghanshyam Dhakad, 26, died in the state. Dhakad’s family alleged that he was beaten up by the police during a protest at Dalauda village. He was taken to a hospital in Indore, where he succumbed to his injuries. As the farmers’ protests spread closer to Bhopal, three days after five were killed in police firing in Mandsaur, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that he would begin an indefinite fast, until peace is restored in the state. Singh also said he would be available at the Dussehra Maidan in Bhopal for the next few days, for meetings with all stakeholders. Surprisingly, what CM is doing by fasting? This is the time when a chief minister has to be mentally agile and action oriented rather than a hungry starved person whose mental ability is at low ebb. One should just ask him to stop such cheap political gimmick which are not appreciated by public at large and take some decision in the interest of farmers. He should not run away from discharging his responsibilities.
Meanwhile when BJP is talking about development and progress, they must install only qualified, younger, experienced, and dynamic, result oriented capable CMs in BJP ruled states rather than appointing defunct and incapable CMs like Jharkhand, Haryana, MP etc. No CM and minister should be allowed to continue for more than two times in a state to give chance to other capable and younger generation. This must be with sincerity, honesty, efficiency and good governance but no norms are followed and defunct, corrupt and incapable politicians are installed. For example, in Jharkhand Arjun Munda was elected thrice as CM despite repeated failures, corrupt and worst governance. Thereafter, the same mistake has been repeated deliberately by electing useless and incapable present CM who miserably failed to take the state forward. He failed badly in curbing massive corruption prevailing from top to bottom when all development funds are virtually looted by politicians and government employees who are not afraid of present government. In such scenario expecting peace in state and justice to its people remains a question. Time and again, Shivraj Singh Chouhan has failed on various fronts. The state is at unrest due to various issues.
Mr. CM should not forget the fact that the farmers are forced to fast, as they do not have money to buy food. His starving makes no sense as he himself could not resist hunger and self-declared fast is called by saying, farmer’s families requested him not to go hungry. Though, he assured that the state government will buy their farm produce and offer adequate remuneration to farmers. He is also believed to be considering waiving interest on farm loans, which could benefit over six lakh farmers at a cost of around 2,000 crore to the taxpayer. He made an emotional appeal to farmers, saying he has been a farmer and understands their problems. However, he still needs to answer what made him take so much time and loss of lives to understand the basic problem of farmers? If he was a farmer, why he did not do anything for them unless they imposed pressure on him? Killings have become very common in MP, be it minorities, be it the witness in biggest scams called Vyapam which exposes government or the protesting farmers.
The farmers’ protest started last week in Mandsaur over demand for better prices for their produce and debt relief. The protesting farmers blocked roads, vandalised properties and set vehicles on fire. The situation escalated when five farmers died on the spot and another farmer, who was allegedly detained by police died at a hospital.
While the farmers in the state are on the roads with their demands, the Chief Minister has got down to this drama. He spent crores of rupees on this entire fasting performance by wasting public funds to divert the topic. The truth is that Chouhan is trying to divert the public’s attention from the core issue and is hence using all these cheap tricks. He needs to answer, farmers’ families who are already under debt burden. Now have to deal with the loss of a loved one. Angry farmers want action against police officers who shot at the farmers and added that the “Rs. 1 crore compensation promised by the government won’t bring back their loved ones”. More than 1,600 farmers killed themselves in Madhya Pradesh in 2016, according to official figures. Between 2011 and 2015, according to the National Crime Records Bureau, a total of 6076 farmers had committed suicide in the state of MP.
In April, the new Uttar Pradesh government of Yogi Adityanath decided to waive farm loans. But no one has come; either from the bank or from the government to explain the procedure to the farmer to avail this facility. Farmers are waiting for something concrete to reach them. Many farmers hold up the notice from their bank for loan recovery even after the waiver was announced. Some people get very angry and tell that Yogi has waived off loans and we are lying. Other states and farmers’ organisations have been demanding a similar waiver. Be it in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana or Uttar Pradesh, there is unrest everywhere as farmers are not at peace. They are ending their lives. Some are openly coming on the streets for protest, but none of these governments ever gave any concrete solutions to address their problems.
Look at Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj is fasting and trying to divert attention from real issue of solving problem. He is the one who should go to farmers rather than waiting for them to come. True colours of a CM is showing off, who shows non-commitment to the state.
