New Delhi: The 10-day-long nationwide protest called by the farmers’ outfits entered the third day Sunday, affecting vegetable and milk supply which in turn increased the vegetable prices.
The agitation is led by the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh which is the umbrella organisation. Over 100 outfits are taking part in it.
The farmers have called on the strike to press for their demands of waiver of loans and the right price for crops.
Farmers in different parts of the country were seen raising slogans and throwing vegetables on the streets. There were no reports of violence during the ‘Gaon Bandh’ (rural shutdown) started by the farmers Friday demanding loan waiver, higher prices for their produce and immediate implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report on farming.
Vegetables were sold at some places under police protection.
Aam Kisan Union chief Kedar Sirohi told the media persons: “The farmers are supporting the agitation in a big way because of which the supplies are not reaching the cities (from villages). The government is trying to break the protest but has failed.”
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Saturday stated the reason for the protest as a ‘non-issue’.
“They don’t have any issue; they are just focusing on unnecessary things through this strike. Not selling produce will bring losses to the farmers only,” Khattar said.
The strike started June 1 when thousands of farmers from Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana started a 10-day nationwide strike demanding waiver of loans, right price for their crops and implementation of recommendations of Swaminathan Commission.
The protests were called to mark the first anniversary of the Mandsaur demonstration in Madhya Pradesh, in which six farmers were killed in police firing (June 6, 2017).
On Wednesday, a ceremony will be organised to pay tribute to the Mandsaur victims, which will be attended by Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
As part of the protest, farmers have stopped the supply of
milk, vegetables and essential farm produce due to which the vegetable prices in the market have gone up.
On the last day of the protest June 10, the farmers’ bodies will organise ‘Bharat Bandh’.
Vegetable prices soar as farmers’ stir enters third day
The protesters alleged that the government was trying to break the strike by selling vegetables under police protection at some places
Farmers throw tomatoes on a road during a protest in Meerut Sunday