NDA MP: 'The farmer is extremely furious'

'The farmer is furious because the MP government is trying to crush their agitation violently.'

'Such actions will have nation-wide repercussions.'

'Why this drama (MP Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan's fast) after violently crushing the farmers' agitation?' 

'He should resign immediately.'

Raju Shetti, the Shetkari Sanghatna Member of Parliament from Maharashtra's Hatkanangale, will meet the five-member committee appointed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to negotiate with farmers' representatives about their charter of demands at 1 pm, Sunday, June 11.

When Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore asked Shetti, (below, left) if the second phase of the farmers' agitation will be peaceful, the MP, who is part of the ruling National Democratice Alliance in New Delhi and Maharashtra, said, "We will try, but won't guarantee anything."

Shetti -- whose Shetkari Sanghatna's Sadabhau Khot is a minister of state for agriculture in the Fadnavis government -- was non-committal when asked if he would ask his minister to quit his ministry if the farmers' demands fail to pass muster with the Maharashtra government.

Shetti, who visited Madhya Pradesh in disguise because the MP police is clamping down on farmers' leaders meeting their counterparts in Mandsaur, alleges the violence in the neighbouring state was incited by a Bharatiya Janata Party leader and claims he has video evidence to support his belief.

"The hope that farmers had from the prime minister has developed cracks. The farmers are feeling let down by Modi," Shetti said.