P M is waving off Businessman’s loan but cannot waive off farmers loan , alleges Rahul Gandhi
MANDSUR/NEW DELHI : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has been detained at Neemuch as he defied police barricades of Mandsaur. Earlier in the day, Rahul rode pillion on a motorcycle and walked some distance to reach Mandsaur from Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh district. As he made his way to the epicentre of the farmers’ protest, the local police in Madhya Pradesh made it clear that he will not be allowed to enter the district.
Congress leaders Kamal Nath, Sachin Pilot, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Digvijaya Singh, and JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav were taken into preventive custody. “Gandhi reached Udaipur from Delhi in a chartered plane and left for Madhya Pradesh by road.In Nimaheda town of Chittorgarh district, he rode pillion for 5-7 km and reached close to the border. After the bike ride, he walked toward the border, IG Udaipur Anand Srivastava told .
The agitation has intensified in other parts of the country with around 4,000 villagers taking to the streets in Maharashtra’s Solapur where a farmer hanged himself. The farmers’ union of the Congress is also staging a protest at the Cantonment Railway Station in Bengaluru.
Television channels showed Mr. Gandhi arguing with Madhya Pradesh police personnel as his convoy was blocked at the border. Speaking to the reporters, Mr. Gandhi blamed BJP government in the Madhya Pradesh and Centre for the farmer crisis. “Farmers are agitating across the country. They (NDA government) haven’t fulfilled the promises they made. This is anti-farmer government both at State and central-level,” Mr. Gandhi said before being detained.
While being taken into police custody, Mr. Yadav said, “Demonetisation and anti-farmers’ policies of the NDA government have ruined farmers across the country. Farmers are forced to sell onion at Rs 2 a kg. No MSP offered by the Madhya Pradesh government.”
Meanwhile , Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu accused the Congress of instigating and politicising the farmers’ stir in Madhya Pradesh and termed Mr. Gandhi’s planned visit to the violence-hit Mandsaur “another photo opportunity.”“The Congress is instigating and politicising the issue. It should stop doing that and behave as a responsible political party to help restore normalcy there,” he said.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr. Naidu also dismissed the Congress’ demand that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan step down from his post in view of the killing of five protesting farmers in police firing. Mr. Naidu recalled an incident in the State’s Betul district on January 12, 1998, where 24 farmers died allegedly in police firing ordered by Mr. Digvijaya Singh. “Did they seek resignation of [Digvijaya] Singh when the 24 farmers were killed? Did the Congress vice president visit the victim farmers then?” Mr. Naidu asked.
Two toll plazas vandalisedTwo toll plazas were vandalised and a warehouse was set on fire in Neemuch. Sixty-two people have been detained, say police. State Home Minister Bhupendra Singh said the death of five farmers was due to police firing. It may be noted that the State government had denied that police firing killed them.Mr. Singh said the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police failed to control the situation and deal with the agitating farmers.
As protests spread to other districts, the government transferred Mandsaur District Collector Swatantra Kumar Singh. He was posted as deputy secretary, Mantralaya. He was replaced by O.P. Shrivastava, official sources said. The government also transferred Superintendent of Police O.P. Tripathi and posted Manoj Kumar Singh in his place, the sources added.
The Congress yesterday termed as “coldblooded murder” the killing of five farmers in police firing in Madhya Pradesh and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on it.
Section 144 has been imposed in Neemuch. Mobile-based Internet services were suspended in Mandsaur, Neemuch and Ratlam. All roads are blocked and outsiders are not allowed.
Rahul Gandhi heading towards Mandsaur Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi was expected to reach Neemuch before heading to the violence-hit Mandsaur. He left Delhi on Thursday, even as the local police made it clear that he will not be allowed to enter the district.
JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav is accompanying Mr. Gandhi, besides senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia. Five farmers were killed and two critically injured in Mandsaur when the police opened fire during a violent protest on Tuesday.The farmers have been agitating since June 1,demanding better prices for their produce and loan waiver.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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