Bhilwara: Thousands of farmers protested at the Khatik Hostel here Friday, rallying under the banner of the Congress party’s ‘crop compensation, people’s right’ agitation. The protest was sparked by extensive crop damage from excessive heavy rains this monsoon, with farmers calling for immediate compensation from the state govt.Prominent Congress members, including party national secretary Dheeraj Gurjar, former ministers Arjun Bamaniya, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas and Raghuveer Meena, addressed the assembled crowd, highlighting the plight of farmers across Rajasthan. Following fiery speeches, a large procession led by Gurjar marched to the Bhilwara Collectorate, where farmers demanded urgent action from the govt. Gurjar criticised the govt for its insensitivity, particularly considering recent celebrations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday while farmers faced dire circumstances. “The distress among farmers is heart-wrenching,” Gurjar said, emphasising the need for swift crop surveys and compensation. He alleged that last year’s compensation of Rs 80 crore for 1.2 lakh farmers was never disbursed due to administrative neglect, leaving many without support in the current crisis. This year, excessive rainfall has led to damages estimated between Rs 300 to Rs 400 crore in Bhilwara alone, yet the govt has only issued statements without taking tangible actions, he said. The protest saw a strong show of support from politicians across Mewar and Hadauti regions, who rallied behind a 5-point agenda aimed at securing justice for the affected farmers. However, local politicians from Bhilwara distanced themselves from the agitation. As the protest concluded, Gunjal warned that if the govt failed to provide compensation, the movement could escalate into a larger campaign, echoing the frustrations of farmers who feel their voices are being overlooked. Bhilwara collector Jasmeet Singh Sandhu later said that compensation is provided based on crop damage reports. The assessment of crops damaged by the recent excessive rainfall will be completed by Sept 30. “Meanwhile, compensation for crop damage that occurred in 2024 is being directly transferred to farmers’ accounts through DBT,” said Sandhu.
