NEW DELHI: Taking political advantage of the farmer’s agitation in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress on Saturday said that ‘inaction’ of the state government forced the farmers to sell their crop below minimum support price to the middlemen.
Terming the indefinite fast by the state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as a “pretense”, Congress party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asked Chouhan to prepare for his “political exile”.
Speaking to reporters in the national capital, Surjewala said,"Shivraj Singh Chouhan's fast is a drama...it is a sham, he should answer why a case of murder has not been filed in the death of five farmers in Madhya Pradesh.”
"This fast is nothing but a pretense...the Congress is with farmers in their fight for their rights," Surjewala said while alleging that farmers are selling potatoes and onions at throwaway prices in the state. The situation is similar in case of wheat as well.
He also blamed BJP for making "false promises" over providing better prices to farmers for their produce as the state government has been unable to give minimum selling price to the farmers.
With farmer’s protest turned violent and the situation became law and order issue, state chief minister sat on an indefinite fast for the restoration of peace and promised profitable prices to farmers for their produce. State farmers are demanding for loan waiver along with better prices for their crop.