Farmers Protest by Spilling Milk on Roads in Punjab, Violence Reported From Jaipur as 10-Day Strike Begins

New Delhi, June 1: As part of the nationwide strike, that began on Friday, farmers across the nation stopped the supply of vegetables, fruits, milk and other daily use items. The farmers are staging a protest from June 1-10 in various states across the country to press their demand for a complete loan waiver and the right price for crops.

The farmers are also demanding the implementation of the MS Swaminathan committee recommendations. Taking a turn for worse, the farmers’ strike turned violent after clashes erupted in Jaipur. To pacify the protestors, police had to resort to lathi-charge.

It must be noted that the strike has been called by the All India Kisan Mahasangh and is being carried out in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh among other states. It is likely to affect the supply of milk, fruits and vegetables in cities and towns.

About 100 farmers groups are believed to be participating in a 10-day nation-wide strike. The seven states where the protests were carried out in full swing are Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala.

Farmers block supplies of daily items:

As per of the nationwide strike, the protesting farmers dumped vegetables, milk and other daily items on roads and blocked supplies to cities in several states. As per reports, the organisations also called for a boycott of mandis or wholesale markets in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, leading to fears of shortage and price rise.

Maharashtra gets a lukewarm response to the protest

Farmers observed strike in several parts of Maharashtra today to press for their demands. Wholesale markets, however, remain open across the state mainly in Mumbai and Pune. However, Maharashtra saw lukewarm response for the 10-day nationwide strike may be because the strike comes just months after almost 30,000 farmers from across Maharashtra marched to Mumbai demanding reforms in the agricultural sector.

Punjab Backs Agitating Farmers

Supporting the agitation, minister Navjot Singh Sidhu slammed the Centre for ignoring the agriculture sector and not meeting their demands. In his unique way, the cricketer-turned-politician visited village Patto along with Congress MLAs Kuljit Singh Nagra and Gurpreet Singh and bought milk and vegetables from farmers to highlight their significant contribution in the development of the nation.

Bengal stays away from protest

The farmers in West Bengal did not join the 10-day protest launched by farmer organisations. Several northern states carried out protests to press their demands including loan waiver and right price for their produce. “There is no plan to boycott markets in Bengal,” Panchim Banga Pradeshik Krishak Sabha secretary Amal Halder told PTI.

Farmers in Rajasthan Join 10-day Strike

As a sign of protest, farmers in west Rajasthan districts stopped supply of milk, vegetables and essential commodities. Although the agitation has not affected normal life in the state so far, supply of milk, vegetables and supply of other farmers produce was hit in Sriganganagar, Hanumangarh and Jhunjhunu districts. “Supply of milk, vegetables and other essential items was stopped in Sriganganagar, Hanumangarh and Jhunjhunu districts. We will continue this for the next 10 days and the protest will intensify,” said Santveer Singh, a member of the core committee of the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh in Rajasthan was quoted by PTI.

Farmers in Punjab and Haryana too join the league

Supply of vegetables, fruits, milk and other items to various cities of Punjab and Haryana as part of a nationwide strike against alleged anti-farmer policies of the Centre. “We are getting a very good response from fellow farmers for their support to this agitation. At many places, farmers have stopped bringing vegetables, milk and other items to the cities for sale,” Balbir Singh Rajewal, president, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) was quoted by PTI.

Centre to Take Up Protesting Farmers' Issue with State Govts

In wake of the growing stir in several states, Agriculture Secretary S K Pattanayak on Friday said many of farmers’ issues are local in nature and the Centre will take it up with respective state governments. When the minister was asked about the ongoing protest, Pattanayak said, "Many issues are local in nature, which need to be tackled locally. We will take it up with the respective state governments."

For those unversed, the move to stop the supplies during the protest was taken by farmers under the banner of Kisan Ekta Manch and Rashtriya Kisan Maha Sangh, which claim to be representing 172 farmer outfits. The protest also marks the first death anniversary of seven farmers in police firing in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur on June 6 last year.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 01, 2018 11:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).