Rajkot: Farmers of Devbhoomi Dwarka district, who are on a hunger strike to demand release of their payment for groundnut purchased at minimum support price (MSP), resorted to a unique protest by begging for money from people. They collected Rs 420 and deposited the amount in chief minister’s relief fund saying that the state exchequer is empty and there is no money to pay farmers. Farmers also declared the government brain dead, carried out a symbolic brain surgery and paid condolences. President of Khedut Hitrakshak Samiti Pala Ambalian said, “For us, this government is dead because it is not paying attention to farmers’ woes.” Nearly 2,000 groundnut farmers are yet to receive a total of Rs 2crore for their crop sold at Rs 900 per 20 kg MSP declared by the government as a pre-poll sop. tnn
