Farmers March in Rajasthan Despite Police Crackdown

Despite the repressive measures taken by the state government and the police, the farmers under the leadership of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) are on their way to complete their protest march to Jaipur. To suppress the agitation the police is arresting the peasent leaders all over the state. On the night of 21st February more than two hundered leaders were arrested .

After agreeing to 11 point demands of the farmers of Rajasthan, the Vasundhara Raje government has back tracked on its promises. These demands were agreeed by the government after a massive 13 day farmers movement in September last year.

The farmers have asserted that their movement will go ahead as planned. Since the morning farmers are marching towards Jaipur and in a lot of places, from Jaipur to Ganganagar, the effigies of chief minister Vasundhara Raje were burned. Police tried to stop the famers at many places, but they refused budge to police pressure.

When the farmers were stopped outside Jaipur on NH 12, they sat down on the highway to protest. The national president of AIKS Dr Ashok Dhawale and joint secretary Dr Vijoo Krishnan addressed the protesting farmers . Dr Dhawale said “The farmers of Rajasthan will not be scared by the repressive actions of the government. The movement will go on till this government does not release the peasant leaders, and agree to farmers demands. The government is trying to stop the farmers from coming to Jaipur, and now the farmers will stop BJP from coming to Jaipur ”

Dr Vijoo Krishnan said “ On one hand, Neerav Modi has ran away after taking around 11,000 crore from the bank, and on the other hand thousands of police personnel are deployed to stop farmers of Rajasthan demanding their rights. This is a direct attack on democracy and the constitution.”

Women in large numbers particiapted in the protest, challenging the Rajasthan government, and calling for implementation of the promises and release of leaders.