Farmers’ stir: MP mandi operations severely hit

Bhopal: Operations of agriculture markets, called “mandis” in local parlance, in some parts of Madhya Pradesh were severely hit as the countrywide 10-day stir called by different farmers’ outfits to press their various demands began on Friday.

Vegetable supply to the “mandis” in regions of Bhopal, Indore and Vidisha particularly have been disrupted with farmers deciding not to bring their produce to the local agriculture markets for selling in support of the stir.

Fresh vegetables have failed to reach the mandis in many parts of the state following the “Gram Bandh” agitation called by different farmers’ bodies in MP, official reports reaching here said.

Panic buying of vegetables by people has led to rise in prices of the perishable commodities.

MP being one of the major suppliers of milk to Delhi, it is feared that the national capital may feel the pinch of the ten-day stir after 3-4 days.

“Milk supply to Delhi from MP is going to be hit in coming 2-3 days”, an office bearer of the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh, spearheading the agitation, said here.

State home minister Bhupendra Singh however described the stir as flop in MP.

“There is no impact of the stir by farmers in MP on the first day. No untoward incidents were witnessed in any part of the state so far”, he said.

Baring stray incidents of protesters stopping farmers from selling milk at some places, the stir on the first passed off peacefully, an official spokesman here said.

Intelligence sources told this newspaper that the stir might turn violent after 2-3 days.

“All the range IGs, DIGs and superintendents of police in districts have strictly been asked late on Thursday night not to overlook even a minor input on possible disturbances in their respective areas”, a senior police officer here told this newspaper.