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Raje's resignation sought over Tonk firing

Special Correspondent

Parties threaten to launch State-wide agitation over death of five villagers

JAIPUR: The Opposition parties in Rajasthan have demanded resignation of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in the wake of the death of five villagers in police firing in Tonk district two days ago.

The Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India and the Nationalist Congress Party in separate statements threatened to launch State-wide agitation against what they called the "oppressive'' regime of a "former queen''.

As the strife-torn Sehla and Jhirana localities of Tonk, which had witnessed large public upsurge over the issue of supply of water from Bisalpur project, limped back to normalcy the State Government carried out some administrative changes replacing the Collector and Superintendent of Police there. The area remained peaceful.

The Pradesh Congress Committee president, B.D. Kalla, who toured the affected villages along with Haryana Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala and Sachin Pilot MP, told newspersons on his return in the evening that the police firing was unwarranted and avoidable. "The Government which reacts with brute force whenever people raise a demand has no right to continue,'' he stated.

A CPI(M) delegation, led by farmers' leader Sheopath Singh, which visited the affected areas on Tuesday termed the firing episode as a "black chapter'' in Rajasthan's history.

Mr.Singh and Amra Ram, the party MLA who accompanied him, said Ms.Raje had no "moral right'' to continue as CM anymore. "She is perpetuating the policies of the former feudal lords. She is devoid of any sensitivity,'' they charged.

CPI Secretary Dushyant Ojha and NCP State president Sriram Gotewala, on their return from the affected areas have blamed the State's political leadership for the developments in Tonk.

"This has been happening with the farmers and the downtrodden all over the State under the present regime whenever they raised their voice,'' Mr.Ojha pointed out.

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