Farmers spill milk on the road during their 10-day protest. (PTI)
The farmers of seven states have organised a protest for the first ten days of June on the first anniversary of farmers' protest in Mandsaur during which five protesters were killed in police firing. The agitation is to protest the police firing that took place on June 6 last year. Many farmer organisations across India have called for "
Gaon bandh" from June 1-10 during which no farm produce would be allowed to be transported outside villages.
Here are the live updates of the farmers' protest:
Mixed response to the farmers' protest, according to news agency IANS
The farmers' call for a shutdown in Madhya Pradesh has seen a mixed response. The shutdown had limited affect in big cities and towns, but was widespread in small towns and suburbs, according to news agency IANS.
Aam Kisan Union Kedar Sirohi told IANS: "Farmers are united and continuing with their protest. The state government is trying to make their protest a failure but they are not ready to bow before the government at any cost."
Farmers Begin 10-Day Protest; Milk, Vegetable Supply To Be Affected: 10 PointsFresh produce from farms and thousands of litres of milk have ended up on streets on the first day of the 10-day protest by farmers in seven states, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The much-hyped demonstration, "Gaon Bandh", is being held to demand a complete loan waiver, minimum support price for their yield and an assurance of permanent minimum income from the government. The Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh (RKM), a federation of 130 farmer organisations, which is spearheading the protests, made it clear that farmers will not supply any vegetables and dairy produce to the cities for the next 10 days. The federation has assured that farmers won't block any roads, but they will sit on dharna along 30 major highways in the country.
The protests are being held under the banner of Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, a federation of 130 farmers' organization. The federation has assured that farmers would not be blocking any roads and will demonstrate a peaceful protest. Around 200 organisations have extended support to the protest, the federation said.
As cost of vegetables has risen by 50 percent in Punjab, farmers have been protesting in Barnala and other parts of the state. They have also said they will park 500 tractors before the deputy commissioner to protest against rising diesel prices.
The farmers who have called for the 10-day long protest will observe 'Gaon Bandh' from 1 June to 10 June and June 5 as Dhikkar Divas, June 6 as Saheed Sahadat Divas, June 8 as Asahyog Divas and June 10 as Bharat Bandh.
Farmers in Faridkot throw their produce, demand loan waiver