People's Democracy

Concede Farmers’ Demands

Hannan Mollah Writes To Rajasthan CM

The following is the text of the letter written by CPI(M) secretariat member and MP, Hannan Mollah to Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje on November 21, 2006.

I AM extremely concerned about the long drawn farmers movement for the timely and regular release of adequate water for cultivation in Bikaner division of Rajasthan and insensitive response of the government to the farmers suffering. The Kisan Majdoor Vayapari Sangharsh Samiti raised the demand well in advance in last September, so that the Rabi cultivation does not get damaged. But the irrigation department of Rajasthan government failed to take timely action. This led to farmers agitation since October 10, 2006.

You are aware about the farmers unrest in 2004 and finally an agreement was reached between the farmers organisation and government on 11.12.04 in Ajmer Jail. Accordingly water was available for two years but again there was deviation in this year on the part of the government. Instead of a fruitful and sympathetic dialogue, the government resorted to repression and utilised all the weapons including curfew, lathi charge, firing, mass-arrest, false cases against farmers and even deployment of Army in the border district. In a democratic country, we expect the government to honour the democratic movement of the people and deal with it democratically. Instead, brutal forces were used and already two persons have died and many more were injured and many are languishing in jail. Should a government declare such a war against its own people and that too for demanding water.

I would request you to kindly intervene and talk with the farmer’s representatives for an amicable solution of the problem. I would also request you to consider the farmers demands such as:-

1. Implementation of earlier agreement of 11.12.2004 for releasing adequate water for the region of the first phase from Indira Gandhi Nahar system.

2. Stop police action and release all leaders and farmers from jail immediately for a meaningful dialogue.

3. Arrange for adequate compensation to the deceased persons as demanded by the Sangharsh Samiti. Adequate compensation also be given to injured persons.

4. Withdraw all criminal proceedings against farmers and enquires into the police action.

5. Adequate compensation also be paid to farmers, workers and traders who have suffered losses due to failure of crops due to non-implementation of water agreement.

I hope you would take immediate action in this regard to solve this problem amicably and restore normalcy in the entire affected area by creating an atmosphere so that the movement can be withdrawn and it is not further prolonged, causing serious law and order problem in the state and force the farmers to spread the movement in the whole state. (INN)