JAIPUR: The much awaited talks between farmers and the Rajasthan Government over supply of irrigation water in the Phase I area of the Indira Gandhi Canal Project started here on Thursday evening even as the Left parties held State-wide protests during the day against "repressive policies" of the Government towards farmers.

The leaders of Kisan Mazdoor Vyapari Sangarsh Samiti (KMVSS), Hetram Beniwal and Sahibram Punia, who were in jail from the outset of the month-long agitation, were brought here to take part in the talks. KMVSS president Sant Lekha Singh and PCC president B.D. Kalla are also participating in the talks. Home Minister G.C. Kataria is representing the Government in the talks.

The strife-torn towns Gharsana, Raola and Rawatsar remained incident-free during the day as people waited for the talks to begin. The district towns of Sriganganagar, Bikaner, Hanumangarh, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Bharatpur, Kota, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Tonk, Dungarpur, Rajsamand and Jodhpur witnessed rallies and demonstrations in support of the farmers' demand for supply of irrigation water to the Phase I areas as per the agreement reached between KMVSS and the Government in December 2004.

In Jaipur, the Left parties and activist groups took out a rally to the Collectorate and held a public meeting there. CPI (M) leaders Vasudev, Ravindra Shukla, Suresh Vyas and Bhanwar Singh, CPI leaders D.K. Changani, Premji and Nish Siddhu and CPI (M-L) leader Harkesh Bugalia addressed the meeting.

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said Government should bring together the farmers of Phase I as well as Phase II for talks.

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