Pledging their support to the protesting farmers stationed at the borders of Punjab and Haryana, tractor rallies were taken out in several parts of the state on Monday following a call by different farmer organisations in Rajasthan. Though the farmers had embarked on a ‘Dilli Chalo’ drive, they were, however, stopped midway by the police.
Rampal Jat, national president of Kisan Maha Panchayat while talking to The Indian Express said, “We took out tractor rallies in Ajmer, Kishangarh, Dudu, Tonk and other areas. Police were on alert since yesterday and many farmers were not allowed to cross the village border. This is a sign of oppressive policies of the state government.”
He further said that the association has now decided to start a ‘Gaon Band Abhiyan’ in which every village of Rajasthan will stop supplying milk and food products like grains and vegetables to the city mandis. City people will have to come to the village and purchase goods. “An announcement in this regard will be made soon,” Jat said.
Meanwhile, farmers from Hanumangarh in over 100 tractors and also from various corners of Sri Ganganagar gathered at Ratanpura bypass near Sangriya town to go to Delhi. However, police had barricaded the border and didn’t let the farmers move any further. Following this, farmers sat on a dharna there itself.
Ramesh Bhadu, president of Kheti Bachao Kisan Bachao Sangh said, “As we were not allowed to move further to Delhi, we decided to sit in protest at Ratanpura bypass. Until our farmer brothers in Delhi stop their struggle, we will continue to support them from Rajasthan. We will continue this dharna indefinitely.”
Farmers are demanding the implementation of an advisory of agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan in 2004 that states – MSP should be at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production, classified as C2 by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).