MP Govt Asks 80-year-old Farmer to Sign Bond Saying He Won't Disrupt Peace on Mandsaur Firing Anniversary

Neemuch: An 80-year-old farmer in Madhya Pradesh has been asked to sign a “peace bond”, which seeks assurances that he would not disrupt peace in the area during the upcoming farmers’ rally to observe the first anniversary of Mandsaur protests, in which six farmers were killed in police firing.

The octogenarian, Ganeshram Patidar, who can barely walk without support, lives in Neemuch in Malwa region. He is one of the 1200 “trouble makers” identified by the administration from across the state.

To protest the police firing that took place on June 6 last year, many farmer organisations will hold a "Gaon bandh" from June 1-10 during which no farm produce would be allowed to be transported outside villages.

The administration’s decision to send the bond to the elderly farmer has not gone down well with farmer bodies and the Congress has also raked up the issue. The party’s state head, Kamal Nath, said it showed the government’s high-handedness.

“An 80-year-old farmer made to submit the peace bond. Thousands of farmers and traders issued notices. Arrangement of tear gas shells, canes. By doing all this, Shivraj government itself is triggering lawlessness and vitiating the atmosphere,” he tweeted.

As the news of the bond spread in the area, members of Bharatiya Kisan Union reached the local police station and shouted slogans. They also submitted a memorandum against it to the tehsildar.

Home minister Bhupendra Singh, however, claimed the state government had not ordered any submission of peace bonds. “If any elderly man is made to submit the bond, it is condemnable,” said Singh.

Speaking to News18, local farmer and Congress member Umrao Singh Gurjar, confirmed that many farmers had received the notices from the administration. He said it was a way to intimidate the farmers ahead of the stir.

“Gram sevaks, ASHA, USHA workers, teachers, health workers, revenue staff and government staffers are being ordered to reach Mandsaur on May 30 to attend CM Shivraj’s public meeting,” alleged Gurjar.

Shivraj’s public meeting on May 30 has been organised to pre-empt Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who will visit Mandsaur on June 6 and hold a public meeting.

According to Makrand Deuskar, the IG (Intelligence), additional force have been deployed in 35 districts of the state in the wake of the planned farmers stir. Around 10,000 canes, chest guards and additional vehicles have also been supplied to these districts.

Besides, local police, around 5,000 jawans have been sent to these districts.

Meanwhile throwing his weight behind the farmers’ stir, former union minister Anil Shastri who was in Bhopal on Tuesday, claimed that those who sprayed bullets on farmers are now making them submit the peace bonds.

Responding to Congress’ jibe, senior BJP leader Prabhat Jha said that the Congress was making a condemnable effort to do politics using the dead. “Whatever untoward happens during the proposed agitation, Congress would be held responsible for that,” he said.