MP: Peace bond for farmers sparks row

Bhopal: The move to “force” the farmers to sign “peace bond” committing not to join the ten-day stir called by different Kissan bodies in Madhya Pradesh from June 1, stirred a row with Congress’ opposition.

MP Congress president Kamal Nath on Tuesday slammed the state government for asking the farmers to give undertakings in form of bonds not to join the stir, describing it “suppression of democratic rights” of the farmers. “By forcing an 80-year-old farmer to sign bond, by issuing notice to brother of a farmer slain police firing on June six last year in Mandsaur in MP (to sign peace bond) and arranging 10,000 sticks for police men to deal with protesters during the proposed stir by farmers amount to creating lawlessness in the state by the state government” Mr Nath tweeted.

He was referring to notices issued by local police to the farmers including the brother of a slain farmer shot dead by police last year during the agitation to give undertakings in form of bond not to participate in the farmers’ agitation.