Section 144 imposed as government head for farmer showdown | jaipur | Hindustan Times

The state government on Wednesday detained several farmer leaders and imposed section 144 in Jaipur ahead of the proposed siege of the assembly by farmers on Thursday over their demand for a complete crop loan waiver.

The government and farmers are headed for a showdown over the crop loan waiver that was announced by chief minister Vasundhara Raje in the budget. Raje announced a one-time crop loan waiver for small and marginal farmers, which left farmers unhappy.

Farmer leader and former CPIM MLA Amraram, who had led an agitation last September and had forced the government to announce that they would set up a committee to study the implementation of crop loan waiver, said that the government has gone back on its word. According to the agreement, the government had agreed to Rs 50,000 crop loan waiver for all farmers.

The state government has over the last two days arrested scores of All India Kisan Sabha leaders, who are leading the agitation. Among those arrested are former MLAs of the CPIM Amraram, Pemaram and Pawan Duggal.

Stringent security has been put in place and police have been deployed said Jaipur commissioner Sanjay Agrawal adding that additional force has also been demanded from the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary.

Agrawal said that the police are prepared to meet any situation and additional forces have been deployed, including RAC personnel. Section 144 imposed in Jaipur commissionerate.

On Wednesday, a dozen farmer leaders were arrested from Khasa Kothi in Jaipur when they were holding a demonstration against the government.

“The government is trying to thwart our agitation by arresting farmers and leaders in all districts so that they are not able to congregate at the assembly on Thursday. They are also not allowing buses ferrying farmers to enter Jaipur,” said AIKS treasurer Gurcharan Singh Mour.

Source: Section 144 imposed as government head for farmer showdown | jaipur | Hindustan Times