UJJAIN: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday clicked a button and transferred Rs 135 crore to 1.35 lakh farmers, distributing benefits of Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana , his brainchild to placate soaring tempers among warring farmers The scheme, that gives farmers difference between low market price and minimum support price for their produce, diverted huge amounts from state coffers earmarked for planned development works in Madhya Pradesh - a fact that Chouhan claimed he had consciously ignored to lead benefits to the agriculturists."My friends in the opposition had been criticizing the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana. Huge sums are required to give farmers their dues. But I will do it even if I have to pay a huge cost," Chouhan told a large gathering of farmers from different districts, including Mandsaur - the epicenter of recent farmer agitation."Bureaucrats had told me - mat karo... mar jaoge, khajana Khali ho jayega (don't do it. you will succumb, the treasury will deplete)," he said adding "but I told them, whatever happens, I will do whatever I can for farmers."Chouhan's statements, which came a year ahead of the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, clearly carried the message across - farmers are his first priority. Referring to a demand for construction of a bridge in Ujjain, the chief minister said, "The Freeganj Bridge can be constructed after a year. I told the officials, first think about farmers. When you don't have anyone to climb the bridge, what will we do with it?"The CM aligned himself with farmers and said, "I have ploughed the field himself and has suffered the brunt of weather; therefore I feel the pain of the farmers."The chief minister countered Congress allegations of ignoring farmers and said, "When we (BJP) took over, roads were bad, water and power were absent. We have changed the scenario."He claimed that opposition calls him 'gadbad CM'. "I am not bothered. Those who have run the state for 50 years are now abusing Shivraj," he said claiming that he can talk all day about his list of achievements.Laying down steps taken for farmers, Chouhan elaborated on the crop insurance scheme, farm loans on zero per cent and Krishak Udyami Yojana wherein loan of Rs. 10 lakh to 2 crore will be provided without guarantee to the children of the farmers for establishing industry related to the agriculture.He said Kisan Bazaar will be opened in each urban body to protect farmers from the middlemen. Farmers would be facilitated to sell their crops directly to the consumers in these bazaars. Total 378 kisan bazaars will be made in the state.A huge crowd of farmers had gathered to take part in the programme wherein farmers who have sold their Kharif crop between October 16 and 31, got the benefits under the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana.Under the scheme, the price difference amount of Rs 470 per quintal for soybean, Rs 2400 for urad, Rs 1455 for moong, Rs 720 on ground nut and Rs 235 per quintal for maize has been transferred in the bank accounts of the farmers. The registration date under the scheme has been extended till November 25.Later during the day, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan also laid foundation of railway over bridge costing Rs 30.21 crore and sewerage project worth Rs 402 crore in Ujjain.

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