The Madhya Pradesh Congress organised road blockages (chakka jam) across the state on Friday in support of farmers protesting against the new farm bills. The road blockages were held in 500 places across the state for duration of two hours, the Congress claimed.
Meanwhile, senior leaders including ex-CM and MPCC chief Kamal Nath, ex-minister Ramniwas Rawat and Jitu Patwari took out tractor rallies too in different assembly segments. In Bhopal, ex-minister P.C. Sharma led a blockage at busy Roshanpura Square, leading to customary arrest of Sharma and other Congress members.
Speaking in a farmers’ convention held at Chaurai Assembly segment in Chhindwara, Kamal Nath alleged that implementation of the three new farm laws will turn the farmers into bonded labourers of industrialists and therefore Congress has come to streets to ensure welfare of farmers. He said that the Union government was trying to finish off the farmers and this will lead to further weakening of the economy.
Nath added that the basis of the new farm bills was weak and not only Congress but even allies of the NDA were opposing it, because it is a law to do away with minimum support price (MSP).
also read
- Narottam Mishra calls MP Congress chief 'liar'; accuses party of ignoring tribal issues
- Madhya Pradesh: After PM Modi's roadshow, Rahul to kickstart Congress campaign today
- Mahakal temple fire: District administration bans outside colours for Rangpanchami celebrations
- Mahakal temple fire: ‘Very painful’, says PM Modi; CM announces solatium of Rs 1 lakh
- Holi celebrations: 14 suffer injuries in fire at Ujjain Mahakal temple
Different leaders, including ex-CM Digvijaya Singh, also participated in a socia media campaign of the Congress and sent out messages in support of the farmers and opposing the farm bills. Former leader of opposition Ajay Singh led a huge convention in Singrauli.
The Congress proposed to hold a farmers’ convention in Chhindwara on January 16 and a mega-convention in Morena on January 20—both to be attended by Kamal Nath. On January 23, the campaign will conclude with gherao of the Raj Bhavan (governor’s house) in Bhopal.
Kamal Nath attacks government on failure to control mafia
Meanwhile, Kamal Nath took to Twitter to attack the BJP government in state and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on its failure to control different mafia including the liquor mafia effectively. Nath said there was difference in shooting off mouth and running a government.
He said that the death toll in hooch tragedy of Morena had reached 24. If the government would have taken effective steps after 16 deaths in Ujjain, the repeat of incident could have been stopped.
“But there is again posturing as regards inquiry, action, but no concrete action to rein in the liquor mafia. Also, the mining mafia has turned fearless and attacked officials in Anuppur. In Mhow, after role of a minister in protecting mining mafia came forth, action was initiated on officials rather and attempts started to save the minister. After distribution of poultry grade rice, now poultry grade wheat was being distributed among poor people of the state, which is very shameful,” the ex-CM tweeted.
“Shivraj ji, only delivering filmy dialogues won’t help. Concrete ground level action has to be taken to destroy the mafias in the state like our government did. That is why I say that there is big difference between shooting off mouth and running a government.”
