THE All India Kisan Mahasabha organized a ‘Chatawani Rally’ (Warning Rally) in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan on 6 March 2020. Hundreds of farmers braving intermittent showers marched from Gandhi Chowk to the District Collectorate, carrying AIKM flags and raising slogans. The has demanded through this rally the following: revoke the increased electricity rates; reinstate the subsidy (Rs 1666 per bill) directly in the bills for agricultural connections; assess and compensate crop loss due to hail storms; give MSP for all crops at the price of 1 ½ times the input costs; full loan waivers for farmers; consider the individual farms and the farmer as the unit for the crop insurance policy and make crop insurance policy in farmers’ interest; stop loot in the name of VCR; stop showing more load than the actual load in VCR; stop making a travesty of justice in the Settlement Committee; manage stray cattle and protect farmers’ crops; unconditional old age pension of Rs 5000 per month for farmers; revoke the unjustified increased load on farmers’ tube-wells; install proper electricity lines instead of 100 meter service lines for domestic connections; stop land encroachment for cement companies in Nawalgarh area; give domestic connections to everyone settled on lands marked as gair abadi and johad lands. A 16-point memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister was submitted to the District Collector. The Collector assured to conduct a proper assessment of crops lost due to hail storms.
The meeting presided over by Laxman Singh Bhukana and was addressed by AIKM National Vice President Phool Chand Dhewa, National Secretary Ramachandra Kulahari, District President Om Prakash Jharoda, Indraj Singh, Swaraj Abhiyan leader Kailash Yadav, and others. The speakers warned the Gehlot government in Rajasthan that farmers would intensify their agitation if their demands are not met. Earlier, the AIKM had held a dharna from 25 February to 2 March in front of the District Collectorate and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister.
