JAIPUR: The stage is set for a confrontation between farmers agitating for irrigation waters and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Government during a "Mahapadaav" (mass sit-in) to be held at Ghadsana in Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan on Monday. Prohibitory orders imposed in Ghadsana have been extended till August 5 and all entry points to the town sealed under strict surveillance of police.

The farmers in the region, led predominantly by the Left parties, have been agitating for proper distribution of water in the Phase I area of the Indira Gandhi Canal Project. They have accused the State Government of not complying with an accord signed with their representatives in December last year and charged that the allocation of water was full of mismanagement.

The situation at Ghadsana and nearby Raola was stated to be tense on Sunday evening and senior police officials were sent there to control any possible outbreak of trouble. Among others, the member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Politburo, Sitaram Yechuri, is expected to address the massive gathering on Monday.

The CPI(M) State Secretary, Vasudeo, told The Hindu here on Sunday that the sit-in would be organised at 6 D.D. village on the outskirts of Ghadsana amid a strong resentment among the local populace over the arrest of about 150 farmers and leaders of the Kisan Mazdoor Vyapari Sangharsh Samiti. The senior Communist leader, Hetram Beniwal, is still in jail despite the demand for his unconditional release. Mr. Vasudeo denounced the "repressive measures" of the BJP-led Government to stifle the voice of farmers and said it not only went against all democratic norms but also smacked of the feudal mindset of those in power. "The BJP's core belief in violence was exposed when it responded to the demand for water by bullets and killed five innocent farmers before the pact was signed," he said.

Tension in Ghadsana has increased following a raid by police and Excise Department to seize country liquor and crude bombs in 22 M.D. village. While the local residents have alleged that police swooped on the villagers asleep on early Saturday morning, the excise staff claimed that crude bombs were hurled on them when they were trying to recover illicit liquor.

The Opposition Congress has extended its support to the ongoing agitation and its leaders participated in a "Mahapanchayat" (grand congragation) at Nahranwali on July 24 with the demand that the State Government resolve the issue to the satisfaction of farmers.

The Pradesh Congress Committee president, B.D. Kalla, while attending an all-party meeting here early this week, called upon the Government to initiate a dialogue with the Sangharsh Samiti.

A joint convention of the CPI(M), CPI, Janata Dal (Secular), Nationalist Congress Party and Samajwadi Party organised here on Sunday also held out its full support to the agitating farmers while demanding that the cases framed against their arrested leaders be forthwith withdrawn.

Meanwhile, the ruling BJP has decided to counter the Left-led farmers' agitation by organising a massive rally at Manda, 10 km from Anupgarh in Sriganganagar district, on August 4. The Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje, is likely to address the rally amid the reports that some local BJP activists are actively participating in the series of farmers' protests.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail