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Farmers plan march to Raje's residence

Special Correspondent

Government rules out roll-back of power rates; leaders stick to 12-point charter of demands

JAIPUR: Apparently frustrated over the absence of any concrete initiative from the Rajasthan Government for a negotiated settlement of their demand for withdrawal of enhanced power rates, the farmers who have been holding a siege (Padaav) here in the State Capital since September 1, announced on Tuesday that they would march to the official residence of the Chief Minister on Thursday.

The decision comes after a fairly long wait by the farmers for a dialogue with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on their 12-point charter of demands which include a roll back on the hike in rates for electricity in farm connections and 12-hour power supply to save the standing crops.

The farmers' announcement came even as the Government decided to set up a Group of Ministers, headed by Education Minister Ghanshyam Tiwari, to handle the issue. However the Government has ruled out any chance of a roll back in the increased rates, terming it as the domain of the Electricity Regulatory Authority.

While the farmers would march to the residence of the Chief Minister in the Civil Lines, all those who supported their cause have been asked to block the roads all over the State, irrespective of their political affiliations on that day, informed Sheopath Singh, State president of the All India Kisan Sabha, which is spearheading the stir. The women would lead the protest in the districts and towns, he informed.

"There is no moral in the Chief Minister's attempt to pass the buck to the Centre. She was a senior Minister at the Centre for seven years. Did she ever talk about getting Rajasthan's due share of water from Punjab those days,'' Mr.Singh asked.

"They have tested the patience of the farmers. We waited for six days under this harsh weather conditions and inhospitable terrain in the City,'' Amra Ram, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA and State vice president of AIKS, told newspersons here.

"The farmers have come to request the Chief Minister to save their fields. Crops worth Rs. 500-700 crores are facing the grim prospects of damage,'' Amra Ram said. "If she (Chief Minister) is ashamed of meeting the farmers let her make it known,'' Mr.Ram challenged. He also alleged indifference on the part of the civic authorities on the condition of farmers camping in the City.

Both Mr.Ram and Mr.Singh pointed out that Amriton Ka Bagh, the place where the farmers are camping, is one of the filthiest spots in the whole City. "They have deployed police at the gates of the Swarna Jayanti Park and the Polo Grounds so that farmers do not enter and get some shade,'' Mr.Singh observed.

The Kisan Sabha leaders indicated that a fresh initiative from the Government side on Wednesday need not lead to a change in the programme to march to the Civil Lines. "Barring an acceptance of the demands nothing will make us change this decision,'' Duli Chand, general secretary of AIKS Rajasthan said.

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