Mandsaur violence: Making all attempts to ensure farmers' growth, says Shivraj Singh

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that the state government was making all possible attempts to ensure farmers' growth.

He was talking to media after meeting with the families of those farmers who were killed in police firing at Mandsaur.

The Chief Minister said, "The government is making all possible attempts to maintain peace and ensure the growth of our farmers. I have talked to the family members and my condolences are with the family members of the deceased farmers."

The state government yesterday sanctioned financial aid of Rs. one crore each to the families of the six farmers killed during the violent stir by peasants in Mandsaur.

Chouhan had on an indefinite fast for the sake of peace in the state. He ended his fast on Sunday and decided to visit Mandsaur, which became the epicentre of a farmers' agitation over a demand for loan waivers and better prices for their produce.

Before ending the fast, the Chief Minister said that his government would implement the Centre's and state's policies with the consent of farmers.

He also said that not only in India but in the entire world, Madhya Pradesh stands at number one position in the agriculture sector.

Six farmers were gunned down by the police in Mandsaur during their agitation. The incident invited criticism from political parties.

The situation forced the district officials to impose Section 144, and restricted prominent personalities from visiting the violence-hit district.

A number of political leaders, including Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, and social activists tried to visit Mandsaur but the police didn't let them enter the area.

The curfew has been lifted from Mandsaur, but prohibitory orders remain.

Meanwhile, the state government has issued a notification for the judicial probe of the Mandsaur violence. Retired Justice J. K. Jain will head the one member judicial commission.

The single member commission will probe under what circumstances the farmers were killed in the agitation.

The commission will also probe the action taken by the administration and police to control the situation was appropriate or not.

-ANI