Farmers' stir turns violent in Chhattisgarh

Dhamtari, Nov 10 (ANI): A protest by farmers demanding bonus on paddy procurement turned violent here on Monday.

Dozens of farmers blocked the national highway connecting the State capital Raipur to Jagdalpur, the Bastar region headquarters. Some of them set fire to vehicles and ransacked shops.

"We are asking for rupees 350 as bonus so that the farmers are able to get Rs 1400 as support price every quintal. The State government gave it to us last year but this year they are making an excuse that they don't have money. Has the government gone bankrupt? The government has money for the industries but not for the farmers," said Sanket Thakur, Coordinator, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (farmers union).

They announced that they would step up their movement against the State's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government, accusing it of backtracking on its poll promise.

The State government has been procuring paddy at 1,577 centres across the state from about one million farmers since October 12 at Rs.950 per quintal for common grade paddy and Rs.980 for grade-A quality paddy. They have been paying a bonus Rs.50 per quintal. (ANI)