Mandsaur protests highlights: Debt-ridden farmer dies after consuming pesticide

BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan reached Mandsaur and visited the families of farmers killed in police firing. Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia starts his Satyagrah.

A political storm over violent crop agitation sweeping Madhya Pradesh intensified on Wednesday with chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visiting Mandsaur, where six farmers died during protests last week while demanding better crop prices and a loan waiver.

Jyotiraditya Scindia speaking to farmers at Dewas.(HT Photo)

Another farmer identified as Ramesh Basnei committed suicide after consuming pesticide. Police say the farmer had an outstanding loan amount of around Rs 25,000.

Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia started a “satyagrah” to protest against the state government’s alleged anti-farm policies.

Several opposition leaders – including Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi – have been blocked from visiting the violence-torn region over the past week.

Updates below:

4.57pm: This is the sixth farmer suicide in the region since five farmers died in police firing on June 6 in Mandsaur.

4.47pm: Police identify the deceased farmer as 42-year-old Ramesh Basnei. Police say the farmer had an outstanding loan amount of around Rs 25,000. Local residents say he was also addicted to alcohol.
Police says, cause of death will be known after a forensic report.

4.01pm: Scindia starts 72 hour satyagraha with recitation of vande matram.

3:22 pm: A debt-ridden farmer in Balaghat district , 455 kms from Bhopal, consumes pesticide. His family says he was in distress due to issues related to loan repayment.

3:03 pm: CM Chouhan meets family members of deceased farmer Abhishek Patidar.

People waiting for chief minister at the house of Abhishekh Patodar who died in police firing. (HT Photo)

2:59 pm: “A government should protect people’s life but here government became a perpetrator of crime (Rakshak hi bhakshak ban gaya),” Scindia to HT.

“We waived loans of farmers amounting to Rs 72, 000 crore. Why is this government going on a snail’s pace?” he said.

2:55 pm: “Fight is over the fact that farmers aren’t getting right price for their produce,” says Harinam Singh, Bhartiya Kisan Union on farmers’ loan waiver, reports ANI.

“We ask why does the need to waive loans arise? How many loans will you waive? Farmers need right prices.”

2:33 pm: CM tells family members of Satya Narayan, who was killed in the firing, that their mortgaged land will be freed by the state government. The government will also give a job to family member of Satya Narayan.

2:16 pm: The government has given Rs 1 crore to the family of Ghanshyam Dhakad through RTGS: CM Chouhan

2:05pm: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan meets three demands of family of deceased farmer in Jeeran. The farmer’s statue will be installed in the village, a new road will be created and a community hall built.

2:00pm: Scindia seeks blessings of jain sadhvis near Ashta on Indore-Bhopal highway.

1:55pm: I am pained and emotional...The family of (deceased farmer Ghanshyam) Dhakad is now the family of the entire state,” tweets Chouhan.

1:51pm: Madhya Pradesh government will bear the cost of educating the children of Ghanshyam Dhakad, who was killed in police firing.

Chouhan meets family of farmers killed in police firing.

1:50pm: More than 100 Congress workers arrested in Jabalpur while protesting against death of farmers . They were trying to block NH-7 when police arrested them.

1:48pm: CM will be criss-crossing the district traveling in a chopper and by road to meet family of all the six deceased in police firing and lathi charge.

1:31pm: Congress running big publicity campaigns to join satyagraha on Wednesday afternoon.

Congress publicity campaign for Satyagrah (HT PHOTO)

1:28pm: Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reaches Jeeran village in Neemuch district to meet the family of deceased Chainsingh Patidar.

1:25pm: Scindia approaching Bhopal from Indore, Satyagrah to start from 3pm

1:22pm: Shivraj Singh Chouhan meets family members of Satya Narayan , who was killed in police firing on June 6.

1:20pm: Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to family members of farmers killed in firing : Guilty won’t be spared.

1:18pm: Cabinet has approved total expenditure of Rs. 20,339 crore in the current financial year as Interest subsidy on short term crop loans, reports ANI

1:15pm:Crop loans up to Rs. 3 lakhs made available to the prompt payee farmers at 4% interest rate, reports ANI

1:11pm: A farmer consumes poison inside Dewas collectorate . The farmer, Padam Singh, has been rushed to the district hospital .

1:07pm: “Don’t want jobs, want the accused punished,” families of farmers tell CM Chouhan, reports Dainik Bhaskar.

Rudra Singh sits with a photo of his deceased father who was killed in police firing. (HT PHOTO)

1:01pm: Modi-Chouhan governmet want a farmer-free India, says Scindia at Dewas to farmers.

12:57pm: Chouhan reached Lodh village, meets kin of farmer killed in police firing.

12:52pm: “Is this democracy that nobody can meet or console the families of the farmers killed in firing.Rahul Gandhi was arrested. I was arrested,” says Scindia at Dewas

12:48pm: Jyotiraditya Scindia at Dewas Mandi: It has become impossible for farmers to sell their produce.

Scindia at Dewas Mandi (HT photo)

12:38pm: Scindia was stopped from visiting Mandsaur on Tuesday and arrested on charges of violating section 144.

12:34pm: Jyotiraditya Scindia interacts with farmers queued up outside Krishi mandi near Dewas. Scindia on way to Bhopal from Indore.

12:32pm: Wife of one of the deceased farmers tells Chouhan, “Give me my husband back,” and demands a house, reports ABP news

12:22pm: The Congress is trying to take the farmers’ votes away from the BJP ahead of state elections next year.

12:20pm: Congress leaders are gearing up for Scindia’s ‘Satyagrah’ which is scheduled for 3pm.

12:12pm: CM Chouhan leaves for Lodh village, 40 kilometres away, to visit the family of another deceased.

12:07pm: “I am with you,” Chouhan tells family of Ghanshyam.

12:06pm: CM assures family that strict action would be taken against those who killed Ghanshyam.

12:00pm: The CM is said to be carrying cheques of Rs 1 crore each to hand it over to the next to the kin of the slain farmers.

11:58am: Except minister of woman and child welfare Archna Chitnis, none of the ministers, chief secretary or any other officers have visited Mandsaur since June 6.

11:55am: Dhakad was killed in police lathicharge in Mandsaur. He didn’t die in the police firing on June 6.

11:54am: Shivraj Singh Chouhan has reached the house of Dhakad, will talk to the family.

11:52am: Chouhan on his way to visit Ghanshyam Dhakad. His family is demanding action against local police and will appeal to the CM.

11:42am: CM Chouhan leaves for Barwan village from Mandsaur by road to meet family of one of the deceased farmers

11:35am: Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reaches Mandsaur

10:30am: Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan leaves for violence-hit Mandsaur, a week after five farmers died in police firing.