Madhya Pradesh: Congress MLA arrested for insisting to sell potatoes free

Indore: Congress MLA Jeetu Patwari was arrested on Friday after he insisted on giving out free potatoes to people at Rajwada as a sign of protest against the problems faced by farmers due to demonetisation.

The MLA from Rau, along with nearly 30 protesters, was arrested
from the District Collector's office where they were protesting on the issue along with potato growing farmers, a police official said.

Patwari was demanding that he, along with the farmers, should be allowed to distribute potatoes free of cost to people at Rajwada while the administration refused to give him permission.

Before his arrest, Patwari told reporters that the wholesale prices of potatoes have come down to Re 1 per kg due to demonetisation, causing huge losses to farmers. He said that in such a scenario it would be better if it is distributed free of cost to the people as that will save transportation costs to the farmers. He also demanded immediate government action on the issue in favour of the farmers.

Meanwhile, the police barricaded the Rajwada area to regulate traffic in the market and to prevent farmers with loaded potato sacks from reaching the area.