Bhopal:
A large number of farmers 'gheraoed' Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's residence in Bhopal in support of their various demands including 12-hour power supply to rural areas, paralysing traffic on key roads.
The farmers, protesting with their tractor-trolleys under the banner of Madhya Pradesh Kisan Sangh, said they had been forced to launch the agitation as they had approached the Chief Minister several times with their demands but all they had got were mere assurances.
"We have met the Chief Minister seven times in as many months with a list of our various demands, but except assurances we have got nothing in return forcing us to launch this agitation against the government," Sangh state President Shiv Kumar Sharma told reporters.
"The farmers this time will not withdraw their agitation on plain promises and have come with ration which will last for nearly a fortnight," Sharma warned.
He claimed that when they had met Chouhan last time to submit a memorandum, they had warned that they will 'gherao' his residence if their demands were not fulfilled but the warning was not taken seriously.
Sharma claimed that over 4,000 tractors have already parked on various roads leading to Chief Minister's residence causing inconvenience to large number of people living in adjoining areas.
Sharma said that many tractors were also stopped by the police at various entry-points in the state capital.
Criticising the Chief Minister, the Kisan Sangh leader said he always delivered a good speech and made a lot of promises but they were never implemented.
Sharma said that they have got a proposal from the state government for talks, but this time they will not relent till their demands are fulfilled.
He said that they have listed various demands including 12-hour power supply in rural areas, adjustment of power dues, stopping unscheduled power cut, withdrawal of power theft cases, giving employment to one member of the family of the farmer on whose land manufacturing units were set up.
These also include allotment of 500 shares to the family where such units are set up and abolition of stamp duty for farmers in the purchase of agricultural land among several others.
"Till our demands are met, we will not withdraw our agitation," he added.
The farmers, protesting with their tractor-trolleys under the banner of Madhya Pradesh Kisan Sangh, said they had been forced to launch the agitation as they had approached the Chief Minister several times with their demands but all they had got were mere assurances.
"We have met the Chief Minister seven times in as many months with a list of our various demands, but except assurances we have got nothing in return forcing us to launch this agitation against the government," Sangh state President Shiv Kumar Sharma told reporters.
"The farmers this time will not withdraw their agitation on plain promises and have come with ration which will last for nearly a fortnight," Sharma warned.
He claimed that when they had met Chouhan last time to submit a memorandum, they had warned that they will 'gherao' his residence if their demands were not fulfilled but the warning was not taken seriously.
Sharma claimed that over 4,000 tractors have already parked on various roads leading to Chief Minister's residence causing inconvenience to large number of people living in adjoining areas.
Sharma said that many tractors were also stopped by the police at various entry-points in the state capital.
Criticising the Chief Minister, the Kisan Sangh leader said he always delivered a good speech and made a lot of promises but they were never implemented.
Sharma said that they have got a proposal from the state government for talks, but this time they will not relent till their demands are fulfilled.
He said that they have listed various demands including 12-hour power supply in rural areas, adjustment of power dues, stopping unscheduled power cut, withdrawal of power theft cases, giving employment to one member of the family of the farmer on whose land manufacturing units were set up.
These also include allotment of 500 shares to the family where such units are set up and abolition of stamp duty for farmers in the purchase of agricultural land among several others.
"Till our demands are met, we will not withdraw our agitation," he added.
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