A farmer in Madhya Pradesh's Guna district, surrounded by freshly produced coriander and mustard, stood with folded hands and tears in his eyes.Please purchase my crop... my daughter's wedding is tomorrow," he pleaded.
The mandi auction was halted on Tuesday morning due to a dispute with a market inspector.
Farmers claim that the inspector on duty, Rajkumar Sharma, was excessively inebriated and acted authoritarian during the sale. The issue arose after a farmer's coriander obtained the highest bid of Rs 5,700 per quintal, but the inspector allegedly recorded Rs 5,400 on the slip.When the farmer objected to the discrepancy of Rs 300, tempers exploded.
Witnesses allege the inspector grew rude, infuriating dealers as well. In protest, dealers stopped bidding entirely and halted purchases in the mandi.
For many farmers who arrived as early as 7 a.m., the paused auction represented considerably more than just a delay.Among them was a farmer from Shripurchak village, who had brought his coriander harvest in hopes of raising funds for his daughter's wedding.
He stood in the mandi yard, hands folded, pleading with officials and traders.Farmers were outraged by the situation and eventually turned to the streets to protest. Dozens of them blocked the AB Road National Highway, causing traffic to standstill.
Long queues of vehicles gathered on both sides of the road for over 30 minutes before Cantonment police arrived and convinced farmers to clear the route.
Farmers said the shutdown of the mandi had driven them to desperation.
Farmer Giriraj Yadav claimed that the pandemonium forced him to pay money twice on tractor transportation. "I arrived at seven in the morning. The bid was Rs 5,700 but was decreased by Rs 300. There is no action taken by the administration here. Everything is arbitrary. "Do farmers not exist?" he asked.He noted that many farmers had weddings and family responsibilities and had come to the mandi to raise funds by selling their crops.
Former minister Jaivardhan Singh expressed concern about the picture of a farmer crying in the mandi to sell their grain.Tomorrow is his daughter's wedding, and the farmer begs officials to purchase his grain. "The country's food provider is being humiliated," he stated, demanding harsh punishment for those guilty.
He warned that if such injustices persisted, the Congress party would organize protests in support of farmers.Following the controversy, Mandi Secretary RP Singh recognized that the issue arose as a result of Inspector Rajkumar Sharma's actions. He stated that there had been allegations that the inspector was inebriated, and that a medical examination would be done. Rajkumar Sharma is the in-charge market inspector. We will look into the problem and take action. Our goal will be to improve mandi arrangements so that farmers do not suffer similar issues," Singh stated.
A spot panchnama (a legal document in Indian law that documents evidence, observations, and findings made by police) has been created, and a report has been sent to higher authorities. According to officials, the controversial inspector has been removed from duty, and an investigation has begun.