AAP plans prolonged agitation for farmers’ cause in Rajasthan

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) plans to make use of farmers unrest to strengthen its organisation at the grass-roots level in Rajasthan ahead of next year’s assembly elections.

As part of its strategy, the party will launch a farmers agitation from Jhalawar district, the home constituency of chief minister Vasundhara Raje, from August 12.

Senior AAP leaders, including Rajasthan in-charge Kumar Vishwas, Delhi labour minister Gopal Rai and senior party leader Rakesh Sinha, will address the rally, which has been named the Kisan Nyay Andolan Yatra (justice for farmers rally).

“With farmers plight in Rajasthan going from bad to worse, the party will launch a phase-wise agitation from Jhalrapatan in Jhalawar district, which is the chief minister’s constituency, to press for our demands,” AAP state committee member Sunil Agiwal told HT.

“Under the first phase on August 12, a massive farmers rally will be held in Jhalawar district. In the second phase, the agitation will be taken to every district in Rajasthan.”

Under the third phase, the state leaders will join hands with the national unit to take part in a protest demonstration at Jantar Mantar, Delhi.

“In the fourth phase, we will launch a statewide signature campaign and in the fifth phase, the party will again organize a protest at the national level on ‘Samvidhan Divas’ (Constitution Day) at Ram Lila grounds, Delhi,” he said. The Constitution Day falls on November 26.

The party’s main demands are loan waiver for the farmers, minimum support price at 50% above the cost price, and adequate compensation for crop loss.

“Farmers should be given compensation of Rs 50,000 per hectare for crop damage due to any reason. We don’t want Fasal Bima (crop insurance scheme) as 75% premium is lying with the insurance companies while only 25% has been disbursed among the farmers. Only compensation should be given to farmers,” Agiwal said.

Other demands include bank loans of up to Rs 2 lakh for landless farmers who do not get bank loan at present and an interest of 1% on the fresh loan given to farmers.

In June, said the party would contest elections on the issues of water, education and health. The farmers unrest, however, made the party to change tack. Farmers are upset with falling prices of their produce that has led to a spurt in farmers suicide in Rajasthan.