Rajasthan farmers plan blockade

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, FEB. 22. A farmers' siege, similar to the week-long blockade here in February-March 1997, has been announced by the Rajasthan Committee of the All-India Kisan Sabha to press for various demands, including adequate power supply and early start of drought relief. The ``padaav'' (siege), starting from March 12 at the Statue Circle here is to be the flashpoint of the agitation launched sometime back by the Left parties against power sector reforms in the State.

Mr. Amra Ram, the CPI(M) MLA and vice-president of the All India Kisan Sabha and Mr. Duli Chand, State unit general secretary, told newspersons here on Tuesday that thousands of farmers would once again reach Jaipur to assert their rights for power, water and employment. They termed the proposed farmers' rally of the Congress in Delhi on February 24 as a ``drama'' without any ``conviction''.

Despite promises made by the present Government to a gathering of farmers outside the Assembly in November last year, they have not received more than eight hours of power supply in a day, the leaders alleged. Instead of complying with the demand for adequate power to save the standing crops, the Government had resorted to repression in places such as Moulasar, Nawalgarh, Bansko and Bassi, they charged.

Mr. Amra Ram alleged that three farmers had committed suicide in his constituency - Dhod - during the past two months after facing difficulty in repaying loans in the wake of losses. He gave the names of these farmers as Moti Lal Sharma (28), Sohan Lal (30) and Amar Singh(33). All belonged to the Rashidpura village. One of them (Amar Singh) had taken a loan from the Punjab National Bank while others were indebted to local money- lenders.

Mr. Amra Ram accused the BJP of being hand-in-glove with the ruling party when it came to farmers' issues. The party leadership here did not protest against the police atrocities against farmers in Moulasar or Bassi and the Union Minister for Power, Mr. Suresh Prabhu, even congratulated the State Government for its power sector reforms during his recent visit to Suratgarh power plant, they pointed out.

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