Madhya Pradesh violence LIVE: Shivraj Chouhan begins fast, says state won't progress without its farmers

Farmers in Rajasthan observe bandh in solidarity with Madhya Pradesh protesters 

Farmers restricted milk, grain and vegetable supply in several districts of Rajasthan on Sunday in support of a ‘bandh’ call given by the ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ to express support for their counterparts in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. The Rajasthan farmers also pressed on with their demands for better remuneration for their produce with the state authorities. Read more here .

Sainath throws light on women farmers, who are often excluded from farmers issues 

“A large numbers of women farmers have committed suicides, but are registered as women’s suicides,” P Sainath mentions, adding that over 60% of the agriculture in India is done by women but their names don’t come on to the broadcast. He states that this compromises the data related to farmer suicides. He adds that “‘Load on women farmer has grown exponentially, and we refuse to acknowledge her as a farmer.”

Sainath discusses how water issues aggravated the farmers’ crisis

“Who gets to control water? If you privatise it, you’re dead,” Sainath puts it bluntly. Regarding the droughts that the nation has faced in the past two years, the journalist said that the government and the media blames lack of rain, but in fact it is ground water depletion that is culminating to a water crisis. He also highlighted the inequality of usage in rural and urban area. Some other alarming facts that he mentioned were that poor women pay 45 paise per litre of water, while factories get water at 4 paise. Similarly, alcohol and beer factories get 4 paise per litre water while poor citizens have to pay much more for water from tankers. 

'Who gets to control water? If you privatise it, you're dead' @PSainath_org 'Why are our farmers angry' https://t.co/2MBPEFisNo

— Aparna Karthikeyan (@AparnaKarthi) June 11, 2017

The Wire speaks to the family members of Ghanshyam, a farmer who was killed in the Mandsaur protests. 

Desi breeds have been declining quite sharply in last 10, 20 years: P Sainath

'Desi breeds have been declining quite sharply in the last 10, 20 years' @PSainath_org https://t.co/2MBPEFisNo

— Aparna Karthikeyan (@AparnaKarthi) June 11, 2017

New cattle rules are hitting lower castes, small farmers, landless and religious minorities: P Sainath

New cattle rules are hitting lower castes, small farmers, landless & religious minorities @PSainath_org @PARInetwork https://t.co/gZnrLPWNOT

— Goi Monitor (@GoiMonitor) June 11, 2017

Desi breeds of cattle will be lost over time because of cow slaughter ban: P Sainath

@PSainath_org : Desi breeds of cattle will be lost over time because of the cow slaughter ban. @PARInetwork https://t.co/A8GeDctMnw

— Namita Waikar नमिता वाईकर نمیتا وائکر (@NamitaWaikar) June 11, 2017

Govt should hold special Parliamentary session to solve agrarian crisis: P Sainath

“I have been making appeals on how we need a special 10-day Parliamentary session just devoted to the agrarian crisis, to debate the study of Swaminathan Commission report, and to give one day to listen to testimonies from farmers and widows of those who have committed suicides. Input cost, the price of milk and other things could be clearly discussed during such a session,” he said.

Farm loans between Rs 1-10 crore has gone up: P Sainath

@PSainath_org : Loans 1 - 10 crore & above in agri sector have gone up... Small farmer loans below 5 Lac going downhttps://t.co/A8GeDctMnw

— Namita Waikar नमिता वाईकर نمیتا وائکر (@NamitaWaikar) June 11, 2017

The excuse that GM will increase productivity is nonsense | P Sainath

@PSainath_org :The excuse GM will increase productivity is nonsense. FAO reports 2014-15 70% food fm family farms https://t.co/A8GeDctMnw

— Namita Waikar नमिता वाईकर نمیتا وائکر (@NamitaWaikar) June 11, 2017

No chance in farm policy between BJP UPA: P Sainath

According to P Sainath, there has not been any gigantic difference between the UPA and BJP in terms of farm policy. 

“A farmer is not just a farmer, he or she is a family person with medical costs. Rising medical costs is an important cause of family deaths in rural areas. Apart from not earning as much as production costs, this is another problem they have to deal with,” he says.

Hardik Patel may leave for Mandsaur on 13 June

PTI reports that Patidar quota stir leader Hardik Patel is likely to leave for Mandsaur, the epicentre of the farmers’ stir in Madhya Pradesh, with his supporters on Tuesday. Gehrilal Dangi, district president of Patel Navnirman Sena said that whether the administration allows it is uncertain. He added that the Patidar community in Gujarat and Rajasthan stands in support of the Madhya Pradesh farmers.

Sainath discusses oversight in loan waiver

Regarding loan waivers, Sainath discussed a crucial oversight that hasn’t been addressed by the Centre or the State governments, “The bulk of farmer debt is private debt from money-lenders, not bank debts which are waived.” He also added that farmer organisations realised this in 2008 when loan waiver which benefitted only benefitted Western Maharashtra.

Sainath attacks politicisation of agricultural issues

Sainath attacks the politicisation of agricultural issues, “Every government – not BJP, no INC. Every government has allowed corporations to run amok.” He also questions the media, mentioning that some newspapers carried Modi’s agricultural achievement on the same day that they carried news about the killing of farmers. “The agrarian crisis is much larger than farmers suicide,” Sainath says emphatically. 

He also speaks of how crop prices are increasing while germination rate is getting lowered. “Minimum germination rate of seeds has been lowered from 80% earlier to 60% now to favour corporations,” Sainath states. 

Sainath also suggests that a 10 day special session is required in the Parliament to discuss medical, education input costs for farmers.

Minimum germination rate of seeds has been lowered from 80% earlier to 60% now to favour corporations @PSainath_org @PARInetwork

— Goi Monitor (@GoiMonitor) June 11, 2017

P Sainath on the overarching agricultural crisis that triggered farmers’ protests across India  

“Loan waivers are a tool, they are not a transformation. They are a mechanism, a relief, not an answer,” Sainath begins in his live stream about the farmer crisis in India. “Do not try understanding farm crisis through episodic situations which are manifestations of the crisis,” Sainath states as he explains that the protest in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh were manifestations of the overarching agricultural crisis, and not the crisis itself. “Try understanding the farm crisis through the lives of farmers, agricultural labourers, lives dependent on farming,” he adds.

How overconfident BJP failed to see farmers’ discontent, mishandled agitation

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Chouhan calls himself ‘Kisan Putr’ (farmer’s son). In rallies after rallies, he repeats it and says that farmers’ pain is his pain. But for days, when farmers were protesting across the state, his government remained in denial. The farmers were agitating, throwing agricultural produce on the roads and confronting the police.

And yet Chouhan, the astute politician, who is believed to have his hand on the pulse of the people, couldn’t fathom the extent of farmers’ anger. Read more here .

Congress demands the central government to formulate a national policy on farm loans

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President G Parameshwara said that if there was a national policy on farm loans, all states which now have different policies, would follow it. There would be uniformity in approach by both central and state governments when they waive such loans, he added. “We in Karnataka are committed to address farmers issues. Central government should formulate a national policy in this regard so that state’s also follow it. I demand a national policy on these kinds of issues,” Parameshwara said. He reiterated Karnataka’s demand that the Centre first waive loans availed by farmers through nationalised banks, adding that such loans attained through state-run cooperative banks were very small compared to nationalised banks. Read more here .

Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s comments after breaking his fast

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan ended his indefinite fast, which he launched on Saturday in Bhopal, for the “restoration of peace in his state rocked by agitation of farmers and violence”. He broke his fast at Dussehra Maidan in Bhopal. “People whose property & vehicles have been charred & vandalised will be provided with compensation,” the chief minister said at the event. Former chief minister Kailash Joshi offered Chouhan coconut water to help him break his two-day-old fast. “I will not let MP be inflicted with violence at any cost. Madhya Pradesh is the epitome of peace, it will always be so…The violence in Mandsaur will be investigated thoroughly & people involved in it will be punished,” he added. He also stated that the government will try to provide loans at 0 percent interest rate to farmers who cannot pay interests. Regarding MSP, Chouhan said, “Agricultural products at less than the minimum support price will be treated as a crime.”  

The violence in #Mandsaur will be investigated thoroughly & people involved in it will be punished: CM @ChouhanShivraj #Shivraj4Peace pic.twitter.com/lzC9DIQe8N

— Chief Minister, MP (@CMMadhyaPradesh) June 11, 2017

Former Agriculture Secretary Siraj Hussain cites poor returns as reason for distress among farmers 

“Farmers are not getting fair/remunerative prices for their farm produce, especially pulses, as prices have come down. They want higher MSP (Minimum Support Price). At present, only paddy, wheat and sugarcane get the right MSP. The government should bring reforms in the markets,” Hussain said to IANS.

Maharashtra govt to provide relief to around 31 lakh farmers through loan waiver

The Maharashtra government announced loan waiver to farmers with less than five acres of land. This decision was reportedly taken on Sunday at a marathon four-hour meeting at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai. This decision will provide relief to around 31 lakh farmers, according to a source. The farmers will be eligible for new loans from 12 June, the source added. Read more about the loan waiver here .

Reports of possible farmer protests in Uttar Pradesh 

National president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Harpal group) told PTI that his organisation would be launching a sit-in in Gonda block in Uttar Pradesh on Monday. Three main demands pertain to issue of land dispute with Haryana, procurement price for potato and also arrest of those policemen responsible for killing farmers in police firing in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. He warned that if these issues are not resolved then the BKU would start a “Jail Bharo” agitation. The dispute with Haryana started more than a decade back in Tappal Tehsil when the river Yamuna, which is the boundary between the two states, changed its course.

RSS-affiliated BKS blame farmers’ strike on central policies

“Farmers were not the Central government’s priority”, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh National Secretary Mohini Mohan Mishra said to _PTI_ , stating that they are given higher prices for crops and farm produce. “The Centre is more concerned about consumers and rising prices of food items than farmers. They are not a priority for the government,” Mishra added.

Farmers’ organisation Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghtana says that if the Maharashtra government fails to meet their demands, they will resume protests from 25 July

Govt promised loan waiver & fulfill other demands. If they fail, will again agitate from July 25: Raju Shetti, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghtana

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2017

Medha Patkar and Yogendra Yadav speak up following detention 

“We wanted to meet the families of deceased farmers peacefully and honour them by giving them a letter and soil brought from different parts of the country but we were not allowed to go,” Yogendra Yadav said to PTI. He added that the government should waive farmers’ loans, and they should get the right price for their agricultural produce. He also demanded a probe into the death of the six people who have died during the farmers’ agitation so far.

Medha Patkar said that, “We are being told that if we go to Mandsaur, peace may get disturbed. We are unable to understand how it will affect the peace…We are not going there for any protest or demonstration, we just wanted to meet the deceased farmers’ family,” she said.

Sachin Pilot announces that Congress will have state-wide demonstrations in Rajasthan

Congress to have a state-wide demonstration on June 14, across all 33 districts of Rajasthan in support of the farmers demands: Sachin Pilot pic.twitter.com/j89xe4cF7v

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2017

Maharashtra government announces loan waiver; farmer leaders decide to call off protests on Monday

The Maharashtra state government made the announcement following talks with striking farmers’ on Sunday. This news arrives two after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis set up a six-member Special Group of Ministers group to tackle farmers’ protest demands.

Agricultural expert Devinder Sharma states impoverishment of agriculture industry triggered protests

Devinder Sharma opined to IANS that the government did not want to provide more income to farmers since it was not in tune with its economic reform policies. “Over the years, the government has deliberately impoverished the agriculture sector. Our economic policymakers are pushing people in agriculture to cities to get cheaper labour for industrial infrastructure and to keep food prices low so inflation does not increase,” Sharma contended. “Indian agriculture is not in tune with the economic reforms. More agricultural income means economic revival of farmers. That is what the government does not want. They want people to move out of agriculture,” he added.

P Sainath speaks about farmers’ protests 

“From farmers being shot dead in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, to those across Maharashtra now out on the streets in protest, to those from Tamil Nadu on hunger strike in New Delhi not so long ago, this has been a season of agrarian discontent. Why is this happening, which way will it go?,” P Sainath discuss the developments in the agriculture sector across India.

Yogendra Yadav on his police detention

“We have been detained by police at Ratlam Mandsaur border. Not served any orders. There is no curfew. We were ready to comply with 144. Yet,” Yogendra Yadav tweeted about his detention. Along with Yadav, Medha Patkar, Swami Agnivesh, Paras Saklecha, Dr Sunilam, Avik Saha and JNUSU President Mohit Kumar Pandey were also detained. 

Being taken in a police bus towards Ratlam. Group includes medha Patkar, Swami Agnivesh, Paras Saklecha, dr Sunilam, Avik saha, JNUSU pres https://t.co/eOeciL41om

— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) June 11, 2017

Yogendra Yadav, Medha Patkar and Swami Agnivesh detained in Ratlam

A senior police official told Firstpost that in this volatile situation the administration can’t allow any kind of politicking. He further added that Yogendra Yadav’s political outfit Swaraj India circulated a message on social media on 6 June that 10 farmers got killed in police firing at Mandsaur. “It is completely wrong. This kind of rumours adds fuel to fire, " the official remarked at the spot.

Madhya Pradesh farmers' agitation: Yogendra Yadav, Medha Patkar and Swami Agnivesh arrested in Ratlam's Jaora under section 151. pic.twitter.com/MKs9qRPwp8

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2017

Police stops Yogendra Yadav, Swami Agnivesh and Medha Patkar from entering Mandsaur 

Just now police have stopped Yogendra Yadav, Swami Agnivesh, Medha Patkar and other activists at Ghogra which is on the Ratlam-Mandsaur border from entering Mandsaur. They were coming after holding a press conference at Ratlam. Yogendra Yadav and others were supposed me the farmers and families of deceased. Mandsaur police said that considering the law & order situation in Mandsaur, which continues to be volatile, they can’t be allowed right now.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan ends ‘indefinite’ fast

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday ended his indefinite fast , which he launched on Saturday in Bhopal for restoration of peace in his state rocked by agitation of farmers and violence.

Former Chief Minister Kailash Joshi offered Chouhan coconut water to help him break his two-day-old fast at the Dussehra Maidan. Chouhan started his fast on Saturday in the wake of violence that marred the farmers’ protest strike from 1 June, launched to press their demand for a debt waiver and better prices for farm produce.

After breaking his fast, CM @ChouhanShivraj meeting & collecting memorandums from farmers who have come from across the state.#Shivraj4Peace pic.twitter.com/pNEeYBOXaI

— Chief Minister, MP (@CMMadhyaPradesh) June 11, 2017

No hope on the horizon for families of youth killed in police firing

Abhishek Patidar, 17, and Chain Ram Patidar, 23 — sons of small farmers from Mandsaur district in Madhya Pradesh — dreamt of different careers for themselves. While one aspired to be a doctor, the second wanted to join the army. But their lives were tragically cut short on 6 June, when bullets fired by the police shattered the dreams of the two youth and their families. The two, along with four others protesters, were killed in police firing. The rest, as they say, is history. Read the complete report here .

Curfew relaxed for 12 hours in Mandsaur

Authorities have relaxed curfew in Mandsaur for 12 hours, from 8 am to 8 pm on Saturday, in view of the situation improving in the region following violent protests. The curfew, which was imposed after five people were killed in police firing during a farmers’ protest on 6 June, was relaxed for 12 hours in five police station areas of the district. Internet services, however, remained suspended in the area. “If the situation remains normal, curfew will be withdrawn tomorrow (Sunday),” said district collector OP Srivastava said.

Mandsaur wears a peaceful look again

Mandsaur, the epicentre of the farmers’ agitation in Madhya Pradesh, remained peaceful on Saturday, with markets reopening and locals stepping out to stock essentials such as vegetables and milk.

— PTI

Deeply pained by agitations: Chouhan

“I’m deeply pained and anguished by the agitations. Urge farmers to discuss their problems with me in person,” said Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan

‘I will eat no food till all protests end’

“I will have only water from now till all violence ends. Till the protests are raging, I will not eat any solid food,” said CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Madhya Pradesh, while launching his fast.

Stop the violence, Shivraj Chouhan urges Madhya Pradesh’s farmers

“It’s not correct to burn vehicles, vandalise police stations. Children are now throwing stones at the State. The police is to maintain your security, they are never going to assault the innocent people,” said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, urging protesting farmers to shed violent means.

Every farm in the state receives water, says Chouhan

किसानों के कल्याण में कोई कसर नहीं छोड़ेंगे। आज हर खेत को पानी मिल रहा है: सीएम @ChouhanShivraj #Shivraj4Peace pic.twitter.com/u52hCCv7b1

— Chief Minister, MP (@CMMadhyaPradesh) June 10, 2017