BJP to hold Kisan Chaupal from Sep 20
A week after farmers called off their stir following announcement of a loan waiver by the state government, the Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to organise ‘Kisan Chaupal’ in every gram panchayat across Rajasthan from September 20-25.
While the objective is to create awareness about the welfare schemes for farmers being run by the government, the event will also be used to counter the perception being created by the Opposition that the government was not doing enough to alleviate the farm distress, sources said.
State BJP Kisan Morcha president Kailash Chaudhary said, “We (the BJP government) have implemented most recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report. The government has also waived off the loan of a section of farmers, even though Swaminathan Commission report was not in favour of loan waivers.”
On Monday, the Morcha held a training workshop for speakers selected for the Kisan Chaupal in Jaipur. State ministers including agriculture minister Prabhulal Saini and power minister Pushpendra Singh addressed the participants.
Farmers’ unrest has been brewing in Rajasthan for the past three months. It was witnessed in the form of demonstrations held across the state. The farmers intensified their protest in late August when more than 10,000 farmers gathered under the aegis of the All India Kisan Sabha at Sikar to demand a loan waiver from the government. While Sikar witnessed complete shutdown, effects of the protest were also seen in Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Churu, Bikaner, Nagaur and Jhunjhunu districts. After a two-week-long protest, which saw thousands of farmers pouring in from across the state to narrate their stories of agricultural distress, the Rajasthan government announced ₹20,000crore farm loan waivers on September 14.
The announcement, which waived off loans of up to ₹50,000, came after a marathon meeting lasting 11 hours. The government has also decided to constitute a high-level team that will study the loan waiver process applied in other states.
The government has also backed down from the implementation of stringent cow laws. In an agreement reached with the All India Kisan Sabha, the government has promised to spend more on cow shelters in the state, put in a scheme to fence fields and amend forest laws. The government also promised to make complete arrangements to protect cattle traders.