Jaipur, June 15: Hundreds of Bhartiya Kisan Sangh farmers, demanding loan waiver, among other things, launched an indefinite ‘mahapadav’ (sit-in) at eight cities in Rajasthan Thursday. “Farmers in hundreds are sitting across the state at divisional headquarters in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ajmer, Kota, Bikaner, Bharatpur and Sikar. We want the government to listen and do something for welfare of farmers,” B.N. Chaudhary, a BKS functionary, said.
Besides loan waiver, the farmers are also demanding rise in Minimum Support Price (MSP) based on input cost, calling of special session of the state assembly for discussion of their issues, formulating farmer-friendly agricultural policies and implementation of some irrigation projects. “The state government should make it a crime if crops are purchased below MSP,” Chaudhary said. He alleged that the state government also was trying to stop farmers from participating in the protest. Meanwhile, the state government has cancelled the leave of district collectors and police officials in view of the protest and has asked them to keep a close watch on the situation.
Security has been tightened in areas around the ‘mahapadav’ sites. To pacify farmers, the state government has begun procurement of garlic and has also extended the date for wheat procurement to June 30. Meanwhile, another Jharkhand farmer committed suicide on the outskirts of Ranchi Thursday. District administration officials, however, were prompt to deny that the farmer was under any loan pressure. Baldeo Mahto committed suicide by jumping in the well of a village in the Pithoria area here. He is survived by his wife and two sons, with the elder son passing Class 10 this year.
Indo-Asian News Service