Even as the politics over police firing and farmers agitation intensifies in Madhya Pradesh, two more farmers committed sucide, taking the total tally to five in last 24 hours.
Most of the farmers, who committed suicide, are from near Bhopal. Out of the five, three farmers belonged to places associated with the chief minister.
A farmer in Balaghat Ramesh Baresy committed suicide by consuming pesticide on Wednesday. In the afternoon, a farmer from Tonkkala village in Dewas, consumed poison in the collector's office. Padam Singh Bagri had complained about his land being snatched away for the last few years. He was taken to the hospital in collector's official car.
Dulichand Keer, a debt-ridden farmer committed suicide by hanging himself at his field at Jajna village in Sehore district. He was a voter from Budhni. Another farmer, Kriparam Dighodia of Bhairpur village of Hoshangabad district consumed poison after he failed to pay back his debt.
Grain traders strike
Meanwhile, concerned for their safety and harassment at the hands of police, thousands of grain traders across the 400 agriculture mandis in Madhya Pradesh have refused to buy crops from farmers.
Even as the farmers agitation continues, the grain traders of Madhya Pradesh are up in arms against the government for issuing order to register police case against them. The traders association has announced that they will keep their buying suspended till their grievances are addressed.
Realising the alarming consequences of the shut-down by the traders, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, last evening, spoke to chamber of commerce of Indore and other traders organisations. Finance minister Jayant Malaiya is reaching Malwa region to hold talks with traders to resume their buying.
The chief minister announced, on Sunday, that police case will be registered against traders if they are caught buying produce below the minimum support price. The 400 farmer markets across the state have been partially closed for last two days as traders are not buying produce from farmers. Traders, mainly middlemen, who buy crop from peasants are aggrieved by the government's decision that police case will be registered against them if they buy produce below the MSP.
Government has also ordered that farmers be paid 50 per cent in cash and remaining by cheque by traders . Traders, however, feel that it is not possible under current income tax rules. Under the law, farmers and businessmen meet at these mandis and crops and other produce are auctioned. At times, the traders make cartel and the farmers are forced to sell their produce at throwaway price. The lack of storage facility leaves the farmer helpless.
Gopal Das Agarwal, president of MP Anaj-Dalhan Vyapari Mahasangh, says "We are concerned about our safety and the decision to register cases against traders."
