People's Democracy

  AIKS & AIAWU Condemn Attack On Farmers In Rajasthan

THE All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) have strongly condemned the brutal lathicharge made on the farmers of Ganganagar district of Rajasthan on July 18. The farmers were demonstrating for implementation of the settlement made in December 2004 between the state government and leaders of the local Joint Struggle Committee, to provide water in that region from Indira Gandhi canal. It may be recalled the settlement was reached after a prolonged struggle which was sought to be scuttled by the police through firing, lathicharge and killings.

The latest brutal lathicharge and arrests were made at Gharsana, Jatser and Anupagarh. Several people including Hetram, ex MLA and CITU state president were seriously injured and later put in jail. This repression comes only few weeks after firing on farmers at Tonk who were demanding water supply. This resulted in the killing of six farmers.

The AIKS and AIAWU in their joint statement condemned this type of barbarism and stated that it exposes the anti-people, anti-peasant character of the BJP state government. They demanded immediate implementation of the settlement and release of water from Indira Gandhi canal, release of leaders and farmers from jail. They also demanded stern action against the officials concerned for this brutal oppression. (INN)