Kota: The farmers’ ‘maha padav’, organised by Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, entered second day Tuesday. Thousands of farmers from around 1,465 villages are protesting on the highway in front of the mini-secretariat, Jhalawar over demands on crop compensation and MSP. Two rounds of negotiations between the farmers and the district administration have failed.Meanwhile, the protest has caught attention of farmers from adjoining district of Baran, where the national president of Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, K Sai Reddy, reached Tuesday morning and led hundreds of farmers to the district collectorate to submit a memorandum in favour of their demands. Speaking to the media in Baran, Sai Reddy accused the state govt of indifference to farmers’ grievances and asserted they would continue their ‘maha padav’ in Jhalawar until the govt agrees to their demands. Heavy rain in the region has completely damaged the crops, but the govt is yet to announce compensation and relief for the farmers, Sai Reddy said, adding farmers are getting no benefits from the Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme. Reddy repeated that state farmers are facing a severe electricity crisis, whereas in Telangana, farmers are provided electricity 24 hours for Rs 360 annually. Over 15,000 farmers assembled in Jhalawar Monday to press for their demands, and urged the govt to send a delegation to listen to their grievances, Reddy said. Since they received no response, the protest in Jhalawar has turned into agitation and will continue until the govt steps in with assurance to resolve the farmers’ issues, he added. Meanwhile, Jhalawar collector Ajay Singh Rathore said none of the farmers’ demands was related to the local administration; however, they held two rounds of negotiation with the farmers’ delegation. The key seven demands by farmers include reform in the PM Crop Insurance Scheme, 12-hour electricity supply for agriculture, no privatisation of thermal power units, MSP for crops, no smart meter, and no attachment with fertilisers from dealers, the collector said. Meanwhile, SDM Jhalawar Abhishek Charan said Tuesday evening Kota divisional commissioner began discussion with the farmers. He was hopeful that the matter will be resolved.
Farmers’ protest continues on second day in Jhalawar | Jaipur News
