Bhopal, July 29 (IANS) Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar on Wednesday met a delegation of protesting farmers as their agitation over moong procurement, the e-token system and a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) entered its third day, while police maintained heavy security across the Madhya Pradesh’s state capital.
The farmers submitted a memorandum listing their demands during the meeting.
Kumar assured them that the administration was committed to maintaining law and order while resolving issues through dialogue.
Speaking to IANS, the Bhopal Police Commissioner said all necessary arrangements had been made to ensure that the protest did not disrupt normal life in the city.
“We have made all the necessary arrangements to maintain law and order. To ensure that people do not face any traffic-related inconvenience, diversion routes have been put in place. The detailed diversion plan has been shared through newspapers and social media. Diversion points have been set up on both sides of the route and adequate local police personnel have been deployed,” he added.
He said that the police were in constant touch with the protesting farmers and appealed to all sides to maintain peace.
“Our priority is to maintain peace while facilitating dialogue. We appeal to everyone to cooperate so that law and order is maintained,” Kumar added.
Meanwhile, members of the Kisan Sangh continued their sit-in at RRL Square, where they have been camping since Tuesday night.
More supporters joined the protest during the day.
Police stopped a group of farmers from marching towards the Chief Minister’s residence near Veer Savarkar Setu at the AMPRI junction by putting up a four-layer barricade made of buses.
Some protesters climbed the barricades but later came down after police intervention. They then sat on the road and raised slogans against the state government.
Some farmers protested bare-chested, demanding 100 per cent procurement of moong, a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price and resolution of other pending issues.
“The police are stopping farmers at several places. This should not be happening. More supporters are reaching the protest site,” one of the protesters told IANS.
Earlier on Wednesday morning, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the state government had formed a committee of Ministers to hold talks with the farmers.
“We welcome constructive suggestions from farmers. The committee will discuss their issues, but care should also be taken that the general public is not inconvenienced,” he added.
Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar criticised the state government, saying a committee alone would not solve the farmers’ problems.
The Congress also demanded 100 per cent procurement of moong, improvement in fertiliser distribution and an early resolution of pending issues concerning farmers.
–IANS
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