Rahul Gandhi will address a rally and meet families of deceased farmers in Mandsaur today
The family of one of the six farmers who were killed in police firing in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur last year has alleged that they have been asked by the local administration not to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi who is set to address a massive rally in the district today.
Six people -- Kanhaiya Lal Patidar, Satyanarayan Dhangar, Abhishek Patidar, Bablu, Ghanshyam Dhakad and Chintaman Patidar -- were killed in the police firing at Pipliya Mandi during the agitation on June 6 last year.
Gandhi will address a rally in Mandsaur marking the first anniversary of the police firing. The Congress party chief will also meet family members of the deceased farmers.
The brother of Abhishek Patidar reportedly received a call from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) asking him not to meet the Congress chief.
Speaking to news agency ANI, parents of Abhishek Patidar said, "SDM called our other son and asked who among us will meet Rahul Gandhi, when my son told him that my parents are going, SDM said ask them to not meet Rahul Gandhi."
Former Mandsaur MP and Congress leader Meenakshi Natrajan said her party had urged the kin of the deceased to participate in the meeting.
Family members of Abhishek Patidar had earlier told PTI today that Natrajan had requested them to attend the event.
"Former MP Natrajan approached me with a request to attend the condolence meeting along with my wife Alka. Since it is a condolence meeting, we will attend it," said Patidar's father Dinesh Patidar.
The family members of Bablu and Ghanshyam Dhakad have also given their consent to attend the programme.
Dhakad's wife Rekha, who was given a state government job after her husband's death, also said that the Congress invited them to attend the condolence meeting.
Bablu's wife Anita was also given a state government job and Rs one crore in compensation.
However, the kin of Chintaman Patidar have not taken a call yet on attending the programme.
"We are yet to decide whether to attend the condolence meeting or not though Natrajan had invited us. The government has given us Rs one crore. One of the family members would get a job soon," said Govind Patidar, brother of Chintaman.
Farmers had held statewide protests in Madhya Pradesh last year demanding better prices for their crops. The agitation was marred by violence at many parts in the state, especially in Mandsaur, which emerged as the epicentre of protests.
(With PTI inputs)
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 "Abhishek Patidar was one of the six people who died in police firing during Mandsaur farmers' protest last year")
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