Farmers’ protest in Mandsaur: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi detained with other leaders

Mandsaur: Violence-hit Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh witnessed a high-voltage political confrontation on Thursday as Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who was attempting to enter the town, was detained at Nayagaon by cops.

The district has been witnessing violent protest from farmers, which resulted in death of six persons on Tuesday.

Congress vice president was accompanied by state leaders Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath and JD (U)’s Sharad Yadav.

Speaking on his arrest, Rahul Gandhi said: “I wanted to meet the farmers. I have been arrested but not given any reason.”

“If your thought does not meet that of the RSS, you cannot enter Madhya Pradesh,” Rahul Gandhi added.

He also accused prime minister Narendra Modi of waiving debts of India’s richest but not of poor farmers. “Modi could not waive farmers’ loan, he can only give them bullets,” Rahul Gandhi said.

News reports said that the leaders were detained and taken to Vikram Cement factory’s guesthouse in Neemuch.

Sources said that Rahul Gandhi intended to visit the home of Chain Singh, one of the six farmers killed in police firing. He rode pillion on a motorcycle and walked some distance to reach Mandsaur from Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh district.

As he made his way to the epicentre of the farmers’ protest, the local police in Madhya Pradesh made it clear that he will not be allowed to enter the district.

“Gandhi reached Udaipur from Delhi in a chartered plane and left for Madhya Pradesh by road. In Nimaheda town of Chittorgarh district, he rode pillion for 5-7 km and reached close to the border. After the bike ride, he walked toward the border,” IG Udaipur Anand Srivastava told a news agency.