Mandsaur violence: Rajnath Singh appeals for calm, says govt will not do anything to betray trust of farmers

Against the backdrop of violent farmer protests in Madhya Pradesh, Rajnath Singh said on Thursday some forces were instigating the agitation and the issue was under investigation.

Mumbai: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured farmers on Thursday that the BJP-led NDA government will not do anything to betray their trust.

He also appealed for calm and asked farmers to support the government.

At the same time, the HM accused the Opposition parties of playing a cruel joke with farmers and assured that the Centre would provide all support to Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh amid the ongoing farmers' agitations there.

"I feel there is no need of security forces when it comes to farmers' protest. But as per the available information, there are some forces instigating the agitation (in MP). As the state government has ordered an enquiry into the matter, we should wait for its findings," he told reporters here.

Singh maintained said that "the NDA government would not do anything that will shatter the trust of farmers and the common man."

"One thing must be clear to the people of this country that the BJP-led government at the Centre or state are completely sensitive towards farmer issues. My appeal to the farmers would be to come forward and talk to their respective chief ministers," he said, as per PTI.

"I am the son of a farmer and I have served as Union agriculture minister as well. No prime minister in the past has assured of doubling the income of farmers by 2022, like PM Modi has," Singh added.

Singh was in the city to hold a dialogue on the completion of three years of the Narendra Modi government.

Meanwhile, the central government yesterday sent five additional battalions of paramilitary forces to Madhya Pradesh`s Mandsaur where fresh violence erupted as protesting farmers indulged in arson, a day after at least five farmers were killed in police firing.

Official sources said five more battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force and Rapid Acton Force have been sent to Mandsaur in addition to five battalions of paramilitary forces already present there, as per IANS. 

They said state government had sought additional central forces. 

On the other hand, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi was today detained when he tried to defy ban orders enforced in Mandsaur district.

He was taken into preventive custody by the police in Neemuch district which borders Rajasthan.

Before his detention, Gandhi charged the Modi government with writing off the loans of rich industrialists to the tune of Rs 1,50,000 crore but did not waive the loans of poor farmers.

"He (Modi) can`t waive farmers` loans, he can`t give them rate. He can`t give them bonus. He can`t give them water. Kisan ko sirf goli de sakhta hai (He can only give bullets to farmers)," Gandhi said. 

Asked who was responsible for the farmers` plight, Gandhi said, "Both. Narendra Modi and Chief Minister (Shivraj Singh Chouhan)."

Earlier, Gandhi sent his security personnel into a tizzy after he took a bike ride to reach Mandsaur to meet the families of the dead farmers.

Gandhi entered Madhya Pradesh by car from Rajasthan in a cavalcade of Congress leaders and activists. 

As he entered Neemuch, he saw a group of policemen near a toll plaza deployed to stop him. He immediately switched over to a motorcycle and gave them -- as well as his own NSG personnel - the slip. 

A party activist drove the bike. Congress leader Sachin Pilot also took a motorcycle and followed Gandhi.

They took a narrow lane through Chinta Khera village to reach Mandsaur.

Farmers in Madhya Pradesh have been on strike since June 1 demanding that their loans be scrapped and their produce be bought at a fair price. 

(With Agency inputs)