Protesting farmers block highways in various states

CHANDIGARH | JAIPUR | BHOPAL | GANDHINAGAR : Protesting farmers on Friday blocked some national highways in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha disrupting traffic as part of a countrywide stir over issues concerning the farming community. Tractors were parked at several places on the highways even as police arrested scores of protesters including a former RSS leader in Madhya Pradesh.

A group of 62 farmers' unions had earlier announced that traffic will be blocked for three hours on all national highways across the country on Friday in protest against the death of five farmers in police firing in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh and failure of the Centre to provide relief to ryots. They also pressed for loan waiver and remunerative prices for farm produce. Various farmers' outfits under the banner of Navanirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS) observed a two-hour symbolic shutdown across Odisha.

In Madhya Pradesh, farmers under the aegis of Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangh(RKMS) led by a former RSS leader blocked roads in various districts as part of a bandh called by them in protest against the Mandsaur firing. In Indore, 20 protesters, including farmers and members of some Leftist parties, were arrested under section 151 of the CrPc when they were trying to stop traffic on Link Road at Teen Imli roundabout, Azad Nagar police station in-charge Kanhaiyalal Dangi said. Led by former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the Congress organised a 'Kisan Panchayat' in Kurukshetra. In Rajasthan, farmers blocked Ganganagar-Hanumangarh highway.

CONGRESS LEADS IN GUJARAT
Congress workers across Gujarat took to streets on Friday with demands for farm loan waiver as well as subsidised power supply, seeds and fertilisers for the farmers, and support price for farm produce. While the party tried to block highways across Saurashtra and north Gujarat, more than 4,000 elected representatives of the party and party workers were detained by the police. Gujarat Pradesh Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki later thanked the workers for successful programme in a statement.

Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel had extended his support for the farmer agitation in Gujarat and was de-facto detained by Madhya Pradesh police last week when he tried to reach Mandsaur to meet families of the victims of police firing there.

The development assumes significance in the poll bound state as the powerful Patidar community is simmering with discontent. A large number of Patidars are involved in agriculture across Saurashtra and north Gujarat.

A senior Patidar leader from Saurashtra said farmers in the region are angry as “they are not getting adequate price for their produce”. BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya, meanwhile, claimed that Congress’ public demonstration on Friday was a failure.

“Once a leadership comes up, there will be agitation in a big way,” the person told ET. “PAAS may not involve itself directly with the agitation, but most of the Patidars are anyway connected with farming and will join the agitation.” BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya, meanwhile, claimed that Congress’ public demonstration on Friday was a failure.