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Madhya Pradesh Farmers Block Highway Amid MSP and Debt Relief Demands

Farmers in Madhya Pradesh have taken to the streets in a major demonstration. They blocked a key national highway to demand action on long-standing issues like fair crop prices and debt relief. The protest caused significant traffic disruptions, stranding hundreds of vehicles for hours. This action highlights growing frustration over unaddressed grievances as the state's legislative session begins.

Key Points: MP Farmers Block NH-52 Over MSP and Loan Waiver Demands

  • Over 2000 farmers from Dhar, Khargone, Khandwa, and Barwani districts staged the protest
  • Demands include MSP guarantees, farm loan waivers, and compensation for crop damage
  • Protest coincided with the first day of the MP Vidhan Sabha's winter session
  • Farmers rejected verbal assurances, demanding written commitments from senior ministers
2 min read

MP farmers block NH-52 over MSP, loan waiver and debt relief; traffic disrupted for hours

Over 2000 Madhya Pradesh farmers block NH-52, demanding MSP, loan waivers, and debt relief, disrupting traffic for hours as the winter session begins.

"We are left with no option but to hit the street to get our voice heard. - Rameshwar Patidar, Farmer Leader"

Bhopal, Dec 1

Over two thousand farmers from several districts of Madhya Pradesh staged a massive protest on Monday, blocking the vehicular movement on National Highway-52 for several hours to press for demands including farm loan waivers and procurement of crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Farmers in large numbers from Dhar, Khargone, Khandwa, and Barwani districts assembled early Monday morning to sit in protest at the Khalghat Toll Plaza in Dhar, blocking the vehicular movement, which prompted the deployment of local police and district administration officials.

Rameshwar Patidar, a farmer leader at the site, told the media that several farmer organisations extended their support for the demonstration to raise the grievances, such as MSP, compensation for damaged crops, and debt relief.

“In the past six months, we wrote several letters to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and requested a meeting to raise farmers' issues. However, we didn't receive any response from the CM. Now, we are left with no option but to hit the street to get our voice heard," Patidar said.

The demonstration disrupted traffic on NH-52, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded for hours. During the protest, the farmers recited Hanuman Chalisa and chanted religious slogans while carrying posters and banners. Officials who arrived at the scene requested the farmers to call off the protest, promising to convey their message to senior authorities.

"Some government officials had come and requested to call off the protest, but we want it in writing. Such promises were made earlier also, but nothing has happened so far. We want any senior minister should come for a meeting here," Patidar affirmed, rejecting the verbal assurances.

Following repeated requests from senior police officials, the farmers eventually agreed to clear one lane of the road for traffic flow, maintaining their protest on the other lane.

Heavy police forces have been deployed at the site to avert any untoward incident, according to officials.

Dhar Superintendent of Police (SP) Mayank Awasthi confirmed that traffic was disrupted earlier, but the situation was brought under control after farmers cleared one lane.

The farmers' agitation commenced on the very first day of the Winter session of the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, which began in Bhopal on Monday amid an uproar from the Opposition Congress.

pd/snj/skp

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While I sympathize with the farmers' plight, blocking a national highway for hours is not the solution. It causes immense hardship to common people, ambulances, and goods transport. There has to be a better way to get the government's attention without disrupting public life. 🙏
A
Aman W
The fact that they recited Hanuman Chalisa shows their peaceful and devout nature. They are not violent protestors. They are *annadatas* asking for what was promised. The timing with the Vidhan Sabha session is smart. Now the issue will be heard in the assembly too. Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisaan!
S
Sarah B
It's sad to see this happen again. The cycle of protest, verbal assurances, and then nothing continues. The farmer leader is right to demand things in writing. Empty promises have broken their trust. The system needs a permanent solution, not temporary fixes every election season.
V
Vikram M
Loan waivers are not a sustainable solution. It's a political tool. We need proper investment in irrigation, storage facilities, and direct market access for farmers. MSP is important, but the focus should shift to making farming profitable without constant government crutches. That's the real debt relief.
K
Kriti O
My uncle is a farmer in Dhar. The crop damage this year due to unseasonal rain was huge. No compensation has come. When your entire year's income is wiped out and banks are threatening, you will also go to the highway. Hope a minister meets them soon and resolves this. 🤲

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