MP farmers breach barricades, reach within 1 km of CM Mohan Yadav’s residence over moong MSP

MP farmers breach barricades, march towards CM Mohan Yadav’s residence over moong MSP. (PTI images)

NEW DELHI: Hundreds of farmers protesting over the procurement of summer moong at the minimum support price (MSP) breached multiple police barricades and marched to Roshanpura Square in Bhopal on Wednesday, reaching within a kilometre of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s official residence.Before reaching Roshanpura, the protesters demonstrated outside Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s residence as the state government initiated talks with farmer representatives.Led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and 18 other farmer organisations, the protesters crossed several layers of barricades on Narmadapuram Road, resulting in tense stand-offs with police. Authorities deployed heavy security at Roshanpura Square, where the farmers camped while negotiations continued at the state secretariat.Although repeated scuffles broke out between protesters and police and the windows of a few buses were damaged, police did not resort to force.The farmers are demanding procurement of the entire summer moong crop at MSP, the scrapping of the e-token system for fertiliser distribution and timely availability of fertilisers ahead of the next sowing season.In an attempt to resolve the standoff, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced the formation of a four-member committee to hold discussions with farmer representatives.“The government has always stood with farmers and is ready to consider positive suggestions. At the same time, both sides should ensure that the public doesn’t face inconvenience. We will resolve the issue through talks,” Yadav said.He expressed hope that the Bharatiya Kisan Sangathan and other organisations would resolve the issue through dialogue, adding that the government’s commitment to public welfare also included farmers’ welfare.Despite the government’s outreach, some protesters intensified the agitation by staging a semi-nude demonstration on Narmadapuram Road. Protesters also performed a ‘Sadbuddhi Yagya’ and cooked baati-chokha on the roadside, while residents, including members of Generation Z, extended support to the agitation.The protest continued after the first round of talks between State Agriculture Minister Aidal Singh Kansana and farmer leaders ended without a breakthrough on Tuesday night. Farmers remained on the roads overnight, disrupting traffic and prompting police to divert commuters. Schools in nearby areas remained closed on Wednesday morning.Meanwhile, Kansana wrote to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan seeking an increase in the procurement limit for summer moong.

Responding after protesters gathered outside his residence, Chouhan said the Centre had already approved procurement of up to 4,54,580 tonnes of summer moong for Madhya Pradesh under the Price Support Scheme for the 2025-26 season.He said the allocation accounted for 87 per cent of the total 5,23,243 tonnes approved nationwide under the PM-AASHA scheme, the highest allocation for any state.Chouhan also clarified that the Centre does not prescribe procurement targets for states. Under PM-AASHA guidelines, procurement is allowed up to 25 per cent of estimated production, with any procurement beyond that limit to be undertaken by the state government.According to data available with the Centre until July 29, Madhya Pradesh had procured around 60,000 tonnes of summer moong so far, Chouhan said, urging the state government to speed up procurement in the interest of farmers.