The farmers' protest in Jhabua over compensation for land acquired for the Badnawar-Timrwani four-lane road entered its fourth day on Sunday, with farmer representatives meeting Madhya Pradesh ministers Nirmala Bhuria and Nagar Singh Chauhan to press for four-times compensation for the acquired land.
A provincial delegation of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh met the two Cabinet ministers at the government rest house in Jhabua. During the meeting, the farmers explained their concerns regarding the compensation being sought for land acquired for the road project.
The ministers heard the delegation and assured the farmers that their concerns would be raised at the government level in Bhopal. They also said they would convey the farmers' demands to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and attempt to facilitate a direct interaction between the farmers and the Chief Minister.
Farmers Seek Four-Times Compensation
The central demand of the protesting farmers is compensation equivalent to four times the value of the land acquired for the Badnawar-Timrwani four-lane road project.
The issue has led to continued protests in Jhabua, with farmers maintaining that the compensation matter needs to be resolved before the agitation can be called off.
Following the meeting, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh Indore division president Krishnapal Singh Rathore said the discussion with the ministers was positive, but added that the protest would continue until a concrete and satisfactory solution was reached.
Protest to Continue
Farmer representatives said the assurances given during the meeting were not enough to end the agitation immediately. According to Rathore, the farmers will continue their protest until their demands receive a firm resolution from the government.
The organisation has also shifted its planned provincial executive meeting from Indore to Jhabua in view of the ongoing agitation. Senior office-bearers of the organisation have already reached Jhabua for the meeting.
Warning of Major Jhabua Gherao
Farmer leaders have warned of a larger mobilisation if the government fails to resolve the compensation issue soon.
They said workers and representatives from 18 districts across Madhya Pradesh could be called to Jhabua for a major gherao if their demands are not accepted. The warning indicates that the ongoing agitation could expand beyond the farmers currently protesting in the district.
The farmer organisation has maintained that the issue will remain active until the government provides a satisfactory response on the compensation demand.
Delegation Meets Ministers
The delegation that met the ministers included Bharatiya Kisan Sangh provincial vice-president Dayaram Dhadak, provincial co-organisation secretary Atul Maheshwari, provincial minister Mahesh Thakur and Indore division president Krishnapal Singh Rathore.
The meeting has provided an avenue for further discussions between the farmers and the state government, with the ministers promising to take the matter to the Chief Minister.
For now, however, the farmers have made it clear that the protest will continue and that a wider mobilisation remains possible if no concrete decision is taken on the four-times compensation demand.
