Restive farmers stage dharna

They demand MSP of Rs. 15,000 for turmeric and Rs. 3,500 for jowar

Movement of vehicular traffic was badly affected for one hour when the farmers cutting across party affiliations staged dharna followed by a rasta roko on National Highway-44 at Mamidipally on Tuesday, demanding declaration of a minimum support price of Rs. 15,000 per quintal for turmeric and Rs. 3,500 for red jowar.

A number of vehicles got stranded on both sides of the road but with the diversion of the traffic in different ways the problem eased.

Farmers arriving from several villages continued agitation, sitting on the road for five hours till 5 pm.

With the Government keeping silent on their demands, they decided to stage rasta rokos at four places — Jakranpally, Kammarpally, Balkonda and Mamidipally, laying a siege to National Highways 44 and 63 on February 16.

Expressing ire at the Government for its failure to solve their demands, the farmers questioned whether they were terrorists or anti-social elements and why the police force was being used when they asked for justice. They also said the authorities who promised to find the solution to their demand by February 11 when they launched the movement on February 7 did not provide any answer.

Section 144 in place

Police clamped down prohibitory orders under Section 144 in the revenue division and made a tight security to prevent any untoward incident.

As a precautionary measure, they arrested, among others, All India Kisan Mazdoor Sangh (AIKMS) State secretary V. Prabhakar, and State Kisan Keth Congress president Anwesh Reddy on Monday night.

At one stage farmers became restive after sitting in dharna for a couple of hours at Mamidipally Chowrasta and resolved to move onto the NH-44.

As farmers took a run onto the road, police personnel quickly followed them. A large contingent of police led by ACP Andhe Ramulu was deployed for security.

DCC president Manala Mohan Reddy described the Government’s inaction on the demand of farmers as injustice to them. He said his party would extend full support to farmers’ movement.