Chouhan announces Rs 1,000 cr fund for farmers

Bhopal, June 5 (IANS) In order to help the farmers, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday announced a Rs 1,000 crore stabilization fund.

The farmers for the past five days have been on the streets to highlight their demands, including loan waiver and fair price for produce.

Chouhan said, "Due to mass production, the price of a commodity falls and a situation arises where the farmers are likely to face losses. Last year the government bought onions from the farmers when a similar situation arose and this time it has decided to buy onions at Rs 8/kg. To ensure that farmers don't bear losses, a stabilization fund of Rs 1,000 crore will be created."

Chouhan blamed anti-social political elements for the farmers unrest and said they were trying to take advantage of the situation.

Congress state president Arun Yadav hit out at the BJP government, saying: "Congress stands with the farmers, whereas the government is trying to suppress the movement. They have spoken to a bogus organisation named Kisan Sangh and they are arresting the political leaders who are farmers."

Opposition leader Ajay Singh said, "If the situation worsens the Chief Minister will himself be liable for it. He is scared, seeing the farmers' protests. Instead of talking to the farmers directly the Chief Minister is speaking to Bharatiya Janata Party groups and trying to break up the protests."

Singh added: "The Chief Minister is himself responsible for the violent protests by farmers. He has let the situation worsen, and the Kisan Sangh is an organisation that has no approval from the farmers."