Farmers' Fury at Chouhan's Door: Jitu Patwari Leads Dramatic Wheat Protest in Bhopal

Demanding an end to the controversial Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana, dozens of farmers and Congress workers dumped grain sacks on the road, igniting a standoff that underscored the deepening rift between farmers and the government over crop prices.

The demonstration kicked off at the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office, where Patwari huddled with aggrieved farmers, including state leader Dharmendra Singh Chouhan. Fueled by frustrations over meager compensation for wheat, rice, and onions under the Bhavantar scheme which promises reimbursements for price shortfalls but has fallen short in delivery the group marched on foot toward the minister's bungalow. Police barricades at Red Cross Chowk proved futile as protesters dodged vehicles and barriers, their resolve unbroken.

Arriving amid tight security, Patwari hoisted a sack of wheat on his shoulder, a poignant emblem of farmers' burdens. As tensions peaked, a minor scuffle erupted when officers blocked entry, ripping open a bag and scattering golden grains across the asphalt. Undeterred, demonstrators staged a sit-in, chanting slogans for direct MSP payments and fair pricing reforms.

In a surprising twist, Chouhan emerged personally to engage Patwari and a handful of leaders in closed-door talks, while the rest held vigil outside. Post-meeting, Patwari exited gracefully, apologizing to the police: "If I have made any mistake, please forgive me." The gesture diffused immediate hostilities but did little to quell the underlying grievances.

The BJP swiftly hit back, branding the event a political stunt. Leader Hitesh Bajpai mocked Patwari's "mic-laden kurta" and PR frenzy, accusing him of exploiting farmers for votes. "He left them outside while chasing headlines," Bajpai quipped on social media.

This clash highlights escalating farmer unrest in Madhya Pradesh, where the Bhavantar scheme's glitches have left thousands in the lurch. As monsoon harvests fade into memory, calls for systemic overhaul grow louder. Will Chouhan's ministry heed the wheat-strewn streets, or will protests multiply? For Bhopal's beleaguered growers, the stakes and the grains are spilling over.