People's Democracy

CPI(M) Warns Rajasthan Govt To Stop Repression

THE CPI(M) has demanded from the BJP government of Rajasthan an immediate end to the police repression on the agitating farmers of the state. It has also called for speedy release of water as per the agreement reached the state government had reached with the farmers last year.

Addressing a press conference at the Party headquarters in New Delhi on August 25, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury and Party MP Hannan Mollah warned that such repression on an unprecedented agitation could have serious ramifications. Both the leaders have been frequently visiting Rajasthan and seen first hand the agitation and the brutal repression on farmers and their leaders. They informed the media that the kisan bodies have decided to launch an intensified agitation in Rajasthan and solidarity actions all over the country on September 1.

They charged the Vasundhara Raje government of unleashing a reign of terror on workers, farmers, traders and leaders of the Kisan-Vyapari-Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti, which is spearheading the agitation for the just demand of water.

Every day farmers are being arrested and one of their leaders has even been arrested under the National Security Act, they said adding that even persons released under bailable offences were being kept in jail. At least, six jails in the state are packed with farmers and workers, they said.

Yechury said that the state government instead of branding the farmers “anti-nationals” and “terrorists” should remember that they lived in the border areas and had stood with the country in difficult times and were now being rewarded with lathi blows. (INN)