"Are people paying the Krishi Kalyan cess so the government could buy bullets to shoot farmers?" the CPI(M) asked today as it attacked the Centre over the violent stir by cultivators in Madhya Pradesh.

The Left party's criticism of the government comes after five protesting farmers were killed, allegedly in police firing, in Mandsaur district in the state.

The CPI(M) held the "callous" attitude of the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra for the widespread protests there and asked them to take steps to stop the "disastrous" conditions of farmers.

Taking to Twitter, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the "brave" Centre was parrying queries on the stir from the media.