Madhya Pradesh government blames drug peddlers for violence during farmers’ stir

Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday blamed drug peddlers and anti-social elements for the violence during the farmers’ stir in Mandsaur district, where six peasants were killed in police firing last month.

Speaking in the assembly, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Gopal Bhargava said those involved in peddling opium and its derivatives orchestrated the unrest.

“The peddlers of opium and its derivatives orchestrated the violent unrest in Mandsaur district,” he said.

Bhargava was replying to an adjournment motion brought in by Congress member Govind Singh and his colleagues on the plight of farmers on the second day of the monsoon session.

He said the people engaged in opium-related trade and some anti-social elements were responsible for the violent farmers’ stir following a crackdown on their illegal business.

To buttress his point, the minister said if the Madhya Pradesh farmers were indeed unhappy, why their stir didn’t spread to eastern, central and southern parts of the state.

“Why did the violent incidents during the stir remain confined to Mandsaur (in western MP)?” he asked.

Mandsaur, about 320 km from the state capital, was once considered to be the opium hub of the nation.

Bhargava said 109 policemen were injured during the unrest in the western MP.

“No farmer can throw milk or vegetables on roads,” he said, blaming drug peddlers and anti-social elements for such acts during the agitation.

Looking at the opposition benches, he said the politics should not be played over bodies.

“There are many issues to do politics over,” the minister said.

Five farmers were killed in police firing in Mandsaur on June 6. Later, one more farmers died allegedly due to police excesses.

A judicial commission, headed by retired judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Justice JK Jain, is probing the Mandsaur police firing episode.