Massive protest was seen by the farmers of Madhya Pradesh’s Mandsaur district on Tuesday. The protesters were demanding better prices in the drought-ravaged region that recorded a farmer’s suicide every five hours in 2016-17.
Angry farmers ransacked and set ablaze a police outpost after the firing as the administration clamped curfew on Pipalia town, the epicenter of violence, rushed extra forces and withdrew internet services to tamp down on social media rumors fanning violence.
Congress Vice Preisident, Rahul Gandhi along with senior party leaders Digvijay Singh, Kamal Nath, Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot and Madhya Pradesh legislator Jaiwardhan Singh were determined to meet the families of farmers in distress.
Rahul Gandhi accompanied by hundreds of Congress workers, tried to force their way into Madhya Pradesh with crowds of Congress supporters shouting slogans in praise of the farmer. Slogans of “Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan” and “Rahul Gandhi zindabad” could be heard as the procession made its way towards Mandsaur.
Rahul Gandhi walked for close to 100 metres before entering Madhya Pradesh from Dalia village in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh district and was arrested when he forcefully entered the field, inspite of police officials pushing him back.
The police immediately surrounded him and took him into preventive custody. Congress leader, accompanied by state leaders Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath and JD (U)’s Sharad Yadav, was then put on a bus and sent to a guesthouse in Neemuch.
Neemuch district administration has declared Vikram Cement factory’s guest house as a temporary jail and arrested Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Yadav, Kamal Nath, Sachin Pilot, Girija Vyas and others for breaching peace and the prohibitory orders issued under section 144 of CrPC.
As a result of the arrest of Congress leaders, fresh protest have triggered fire in Ujjain district as farmers block national highway. Indian Youth Congress leaders organsie ‘Rail Roko’ (stop the trains) protest at Mumbai’s Ghatkopar railway station in support of farmers’ protests in Mandsaur.
Rahul Gandhi tweeted that, Raj & MP Govts are doing their best to prevent me from entering MP & meeting the families of the farmers killed in Mandsaur
Raj & MP Govts are doing their best to prevent me from entering MP & meeting the families of the #farmers killed in #Mandsaur
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) June 8, 2017
मैं सिर्फ किसानो के परिवारों से मिलना चाहता था उनकी बात सुनना चाहता था,
कोई कारण नहीं दिया बस कहा कि गिरफ्तार कर रहे हैं #Mandsaur— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) June 8, 2017
मोदीजी किसानों का क़र्ज़ नहीं माफ़ कर सकते,सही रेट और बोनस नहीं दे सकते,मुआवज़ा नहीं दे सकते- सिर्फ किसान को गोली दे सकते हैं #Mandsaur
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) June 8, 2017
Home minister of Madhya Pradesh Bhupendra Singh tweeted, “He (Rahul Gandhi) behaved like a college student. He was riding a bike without wearing a helmet. He was smiling and did not look concerned over farmers’ problems.”
He (Rahul Gandhi) has been detained. What was the emergency to go there now? He only wants to do politics: MP HM Bhupendra Singh #Mandsaur pic.twitter.com/zRGArgel8M
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 8, 2017
Bail proceedings for Rahul Gandhi and others to begin anytime now.