Farmers dump their produce in protest

Thousands of farmers protesting agrarian distress yesterday dumped vegetables, milk and other farm produce on roads and blocked supplies to cities in several Indian states as they began a 10-day strike to press for loan-waiver and higher price for their crops.

Farmer outfits also called for boycott of wholesale markets in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, sparking fears of shortage and price rise.

The outfits have alleged that the federal Indian  government has failed to address their issues pertaining to low income, farmer suicides and debt.

Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh (RKMM) convener Shivkumar Sharma told reporters in Bhopal, capital city of central Indian state of BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, that the "Gaon Band' (Village Shut-down) stir is being held across 22 states. "The cultivators have been asked not to come to the markets in urban areas to sell their farm produce, including milk," Sharma added.

Contingents of special armed police have mounted a strict vigil in Mandsaur town, also in Madhya Pradesh, where six farmers were killed in police firing during the farmers' agitation on June 6 last year.