Don’t protest in front of minister: Farmers in MP gagged by district authorities 

District authorities of Harda in Madhya Pradesh issued written orders to local officials asking them to check protests by farmers during the visit of state agriculture minister Gauri Shankar Bisen on Oct 27.

“Keep an eye on farmers’ activity and ensure no farmers’ agitation can be held and no one can show black flags during his visit,” the notice signed by the district magistrate, Anay Dwivedi, read.

“…please inform on given mobile numbers (9425167906 or 8718923246), however, if any official failed to do so, they shall face strict action,” the notice went on. According to the order, local officials were to keep an eye out for black flags that may be shown to the visiting minister.

The order by district authorities comes in the wake of an Oct 26 protest by RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Kisan Sangh against the lax implementation of government schemes such as Bhawantar Yogna and Krishi Upaj Yojana, the latter awarding Rs 50,000 in the event of crop failure.

The order is already attracting criticism from different sections of society.

Social activist and head of Swaraj India, Yogendra Yadav, has dubbed the notice as shameful. Yadav attacked Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on social networking site Twitter, saying the state was not concerned if the farmers were getting the minimum support price, but it was more concerned towards ensuring that farmers couldn’t protest against their own agriculture minister.

Veteran journalist Abhay Dubey also tweeted the order copy and criticised the state government for the notice.

During his daylong visit to Harda, Bisen met with party workers and inaugurated a farming-related workshop.