Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP Workers Court Arrest Over Farmers’ Compensation in MP

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan led BJP workers in courting arrest at Pichhore in Shivpuri district on Tuesday, demanding compensation for farmers’ crop losses among other things.

Allegations against the state government

Speaking at a rally, Chouhan accused the Congress government of failing to deliver the farm loan waiver that was its main promise in last year’s election. “We will continue to fight till farmers’ loans are waived,” he said.

He also charged the government with failing to pay the promised unemployment allowance and to halve electricity bills. According to Chouhan, it had scrapped several schemes of the previous BJP government, including the Tirth Darshan Yojana for pilgrimages by elderly people, the Sambal Yojana that gave labourers cheaper power, and the free distribution of laptops and smartphones to students.

Chouhan further alleged that the state government was registering false cases against farmers and BJP leaders, and said his party would not accept this.

Arrests and release

Police later held Chouhan, party vice-president Prabhat Jha and several others for holding the rally without the required permission. According to Ratnesh Tomar, the Sub Divisional Officer of Police in Pichhore, around 3,000 people courted arrest, among them Chouhan, Jha and the local MP, K P Singh Yadav. All were released immediately.

The protesters also handed a memorandum listing their demands to the local administration.

Background

In the 2018 Madhya Pradesh assembly election, the Congress won 114 seats and the BJP 109, and Kamal Nath became Chief Minister.

See also: Bharatiya Janata Party and political leaders.

Originally published on 28 August 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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