Police prevent farmers’ leaders from reaching Mandsaur

Mandsaur is a prosperous part of the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Villages here do not look like stereotypical Indian villages. Wide roads lined on both sides by ‘ pucca’ houses and a surprisingly well-stocked market draw attention at Budha, a village where farmers’ ‘leaders’ had assembled from different parts of the country. Most houses had the ‘Gayatri Mantra’ engraved prominently on their walls.

Impressive houses had ‘Patidar Bhavan’ or ‘Sadan’ engraved on the façade. With the wedding season in full swing, several houses had put up welcome banners (Bairagi family welcomes you). Supply of electricity, however, was erratic, explained an apologetic shopkeeper who filled up an empty soft drink bottle with warm water.

While flex banners announced the impending farmers’ march to Delhi and a Kisan ‘Mahapanchayat’, the Madhya Pradesh Police stopped activists, preventing them from proceeding towards Pipalia where six farmers and members from farming families were killed in police firing while demanding fair price for farm products and loan waiver. Permission to hold the Mahapanchayat had been denied, the cops said, adding that there was no permission for holding a condolence meeting either. The Madhya Pradesh coordinator for the campaign, Dr Sunilam, has apparently been arrested and sent to prison in a bid to disrupt preparations.

They had instructions not to allow activists to reach Mandsaur, the police firmly said. And no, they were not allowed to visit the bereaved families to offer their condolences either. At a meeting on Wednesday evening, the leaders pleaded with the police to let a small delegation of 25 representatives call on the bereaved families. But the police officer was apologetic but firm. He had instructions from ‘above’ not to allow any such gesture.

But activists being activists, they held an impromptu public meeting last night at Budha village itself. And people, some on rooftops, listened to the leaders as they explained what they were up to.

Despite restrictions put by Madhya Pradesh police, farmers’ leaders from Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Rajasthan managed to reach the village By Thursday morning to take part in the march.

There was the familiar face of Medha Patkar. Subhasini Ali also turned up with a group. Shetkari Sangathan leader and former MP Raju Shetty turned up from Maharashtra. Swamimalai Vimalnathan from Tamil Nadu, Aveek Saha from West Bengal, Rampal Jat from Rajasthan, Hannan Mollah and Ayub Khan were also spotted along with VM Singh.

Speaking to a reporter in Bhopal over the phone, Singh was overheard saying, “Yes, V for victimised”. A little later he vent his anger at the district SP, who called him to confirm that activists would not be allowed to reach Mandsaur or Pipalia Mandi. “Why do we need your permission if we want to condole someone’s death,” Singh asked him bluntly. There were instructions, the SP apparently mumbled.

The march was stopped by the police minutes after it started. Everyone sat down on the road. After some discussion, the police decided to arrest everyone and brought in buses to ferry them. But contrary to expectations, they were not escorted to the prison or the police station. The 500-odd people were driven to border of Mandsaur and let off.

Someone in the crowd quipped that the police appeared determined to transport them to Delhi in buses.