Chief Minister's Special Message to Farmers Leaves Everyone Surprised
The state government of Madhya Pradesh made a sudden announcement on Friday afternoon that the Chief Minister would address the people with a special message on social media at 9 pm, catching everyone off guard and sparking numerous speculations.
Address Highlights Farmers' Development in the State
However, Mr. Yadav confined his entire address to the people to the development of the farmers in the state by highlighting the steps taken by his government in this direction.
Recent Farmer Agitations in Madhya Pradesh
The state had witnessed two major farmer stirs in the recent past, leaving the farmers' wing of the ruling BJP as well as the party leadership worried over the prospect of erosion of the base of the party among the farmers, the major vote bank of the party.
- The land acquisition process for a developmental project in Ujjain faced opposition by the local farmers, forcing the state government to suspend the move.
- The Ken-Betwa river-interlinking project also sparked a stir by the local farmers against the land acquisition, but the agitation was later called off following assurance given by the local administration to address their grievances.
Chief Minister's Address and Initiatives
The Chief Minister highlighted how a series of welfare measures were undertaken by his government to increase the income of the farmers, including:
- Hiking the land price four-fold for acquisition for various government projects.
- Announcing that the wheat procurement policy of his government will cover all sections of wheat growers, including big and middle-level farmers.
- Informing that the Centre has increased wheat procurement from Madhya Pradesh from 75 lakh tons to 100 lakh tons in the current season.
- Underlining his government's efforts to boost milk production in the state to increase farmers' income.
"The government stands with the farmers in every situation, which is why several farmer-friendly historic decisions are being taken. This year has been dedicated as the 'Year of Farmers' Welfare' with a strong commitment towards farmers' welfare," he said.
BJP's Strong Base Among Farmers
The BJP has cultivated a strong base among the farmers in Madhya Pradesh over the last two decades.