AIKS Team Visits Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh: Meets Families of 2 farmers Killed in Police Firing
An AIKS team comprising of AIKS General Secretary Hannan Mollah, President Amra Ram, CPI-M Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Somaprasad, Joint Secretary Vijoo Krishnan, Finance Secretary Krishnaprasad, Gurcharan Singh Mour, Joint Secretary Rajasthan Kisan Sabha and Jaswinder Singh, President Madhya Pradesh Kisan Sabha visited Mandsaur to meet families of farmers killed in police firing. They met the families of 2 martyrs Chain Ram Patidar (aged 23 years) at Nayakheda village in Neemuch district and Abhishek Patidar (aged 17 years) at Barkheda Panth in Mandsaur district and conveyed condolences to them. The team met farmers and expressed solidarity with their struggle. The farmers explained their situation and said that unprovoked firing was with intention to kill. Most of the injuries were above the waist, on the chest, head etc. They also explained the extreme brutalities inflicted on them by the police including on women, the aged and children.
The team found a situation of acute distress in the region as prices of most crops has crashed and are about 60 percent below the prices of last year. The demonetization led to this crash and faulty policies like import of wheat and pulses while there was a good harvest here further led to fall in prices. Soyabean which fetched Rs.5, 000/ Qtl to Rs.6, 000/Qtl last year is getting only Rs.2, 200 to 2,400/Qtl. Chana which fetched upto Rs.9, 000/Qtl to Rs.10,000/Qtl is getting only Rs.4, 000/Qtl. Similarly best quality wheat is fetching only Rs.1, 200/Qtl which is way below the MSP of Rs.1, 625/Qtl. Last year it ranged between Rs.1, 900/Qtl to Rs.2, 000/ Qtl. The government purchased at MSP only for 3 months and not throughout. The import of wheat at zero import duty only added to the woes. Garlic prices fell from Rs.13, 000/Qtl to Rs.1000/Qtl, Methi from Rs.9,000/Qtl -Rs.10, 000/Qtl is now ranging between Rs.2, 200/Qtl to Rs.3, 000/Qtl only. Post demonetisation traders are paying 2 percent lesser for cash transactions. In this period input costs have increased manifold. Both the farmers met were small farmers with one owning less than an acre and the other owning about 10 acres jointly with members of the family. The team also found bags of the best quality of garlic with a farmer unsold because it is not fetching even Rs.10/Kg while the cost of cultivation is around Rs.30/Kg. The BJP Government has not done anything to stabilize prices and assure farmers of remunerative prices.
The State government officials have not visited the families of victims. Local MP, MLA and Minister who passed through the area did not even pay a courtesy visit. Heavy Police deployment in the entire region and intimidation of farmers with threat of cases was also reported. The farmers reported that police were claiming there were FIRs against 574 people and seeking bribe from them on the pretext of removing their names from the list. It is also reported that the Collector has said it is impossible to pay the Rs.1 crore compensation to families of dead announced by the Chief Minister.
AIKS demands that the assured compensation of Rs 1 crore must be given to all families through a cabinet decision. Government job must be given to at least one adult member of the families of each of the farmer killed as well as payment of education expenses of their children must be ensured. All cases foisted on farmers must be withdrawn forthwith and immediate talks to address the genuine demands of the farmers must be announced including fixing MSP at 50% above cost of production and comprehensive loan waiver to the peasantry.
AIKS condemns the insensitive position of the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that States will have to bear entire burden of farm loan waiver. Effigies of the anti-farmer Finance Minister and Prime Minister will be burnt across the country on 16th June, 2017.
Protest Day on 16th June across the Country will be observed by AIKS, Bhoomi Adhikar Andolan in coordination with hundreds of organisations of the peasantry, agricultural workers and oppressed sections.
Sd/-
Amra Ram, President
Hannan Mollah, General Secretary
14th June 2017, New Delhi
