The Hindu : New Delhi News : No lessons learnt from farmers’ agitation: CPI

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Thursday, Nov 22, 2007
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No lessons learnt from farmers’ agitation: CPI

Special Correspondent

“Rajasthan Government does not want to find any solution to conflicts involving irrigation water”

Party backs stir for irrigation water
Pact with farmers not being implemented

JAIPUR: The Communist Party of India has expressed concern over growing conflicts involving irrigation water in various parts of Rajasthan. Farmers’ agitations in the Indira Gandhi Canal area and Sohela have claimed over a dozen lives and the issues have remained alive with the BJP-led Government in the State refusing to learn any lessons from the past, the CPI State Council, which met here for the past two days, noted.

“The State Government does not want to find a solution to the farmers’ problems on irrigation water. The conflict over the canal water in Gharsana and Raola over the water from the Bisalpur dam in Sohela in Tonk district continues to simmer but the Government has given up even a dialogue with the farmers,” said CPI State secretary Dushyant Ojha talking to journalists here.

Extending support to the agitation for irrigation water, Mr. Ojha said the Government had failed to implement the agreement it had reached with farmers’ leaders in Ajmer jail some time back. “The police firings have already killed a dozen persons in two conflict areas and there is no solution yet to the problem. More such demands are coming up from farmers of Bharatpur, Karauli, Rajsamand and Bundi districts,” he pointed out.

Mr. Ojha said the State under BJP rule was experiencing the worst ever lawlessness, crime and corruption in its history. “Mafia gangs are flourishing in the State and everyday one comes across a new land scandal. There is no attempt on the part of the Government to curb the activities of the mafia. Instead, the Ministers themselves are getting involved with some of the groups,” he noted.

The CPI State Council meeting, presided over by Premji, passed two resolutions, including one on the farmers’ agitation.

The second resolution, over the freedom of the Press, referred to the recent tirade by RSS against the Hindi daily “Rajasthan Patrika”.

“The RSS act of burning of the copies of the newspaper and the decision to boycott it in future, amount to a direct attack on the freedom of the press. This only exposes the undemocratic and fascist character of the RSS,” the resolution said.

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