A 'Tractor Ekta March' led by Churu Member of Parliament (MP) Rahul Kaswan, which was en route to Jaipur to highlight farmers' issues, was intercepted by police near Ratanpura village. The march, which commenced from Rajgarh on Monday morning, covered approximately 15 kilometers. Before reaching Ratanpura, where a police blockade had been established on the highway. Police vehicles and Vajra vans were strategically positioned across the road to prevent the farmers from proceeding further. During this operation, authorities seized over 100 tractors and detained around 15 to 20 farmers, leading to a tense situation at the site.
Negotiations with Collector and SP Lead to Agreement
Following the halt of the tractor march and the detention of farmers, MP Rahul. Kaswan, along with the participating farmers, initiated a sit-in protest directly on the road. He insisted on the presence of the District Collector at the scene for discussions. The protest saw the participation of several prominent leaders alongside MP Kaswan, including Taranagar MLA Narendra Budania, Ratangarh MLA Pusaram Godara, Sujangarh MLA Manoj Meghwal, Nohar MLA Amit Chachan, Congress District President Indraraj Khinchad, former MLA Krishna Poonia, and Rafiq Mandelia, while these leaders collectively voiced their support for the farmers' demands and condemned the police action.
Around 2 PM, District Collector Abhishek Surana and Superintendent of Police (SP) Jai Yadav arrived at the protest site in Ratanpura village, while they initiated discussions with MP Rahul Kaswan and the other leaders. After two rounds of extensive talks, a consensus was reached. As per the agreement, a 30-member delegation, including MP Rahul Kaswan, will travel to Jaipur to meet with the Chief Minister, while this delegation will comprise 21 farmers and 9 Congress representatives, who will directly engage with the Chief Minister regarding various farmer issues, including a demand for a 500 crore rupee crop insurance claim. Plus, assurances were given that the delegation would also hold discussions with agricultural officials, insurance company representatives, and the concerned minister in Jaipur. Following this agreement, MP Kaswan called off the sit-in protest.
Extensive Police Blockade
To prevent the 'Tractor Ekta March' from reaching its destination, the police administration had made extensive arrangements, while a comprehensive blockade was set up on National Highway NH-52 near Hotel Jhankar and Hotel Sunway from early morning. Farmers began arriving at these locations with their tractors, but they were prevented from moving forward by the police. A large contingent of police force was deployed at these. Points to ensure the march couldn't proceed towards Jaipur. This blockade also led to traffic disruptions for several hours.
Strict Security Measures
Strict security measures were implemented at the farmers' protest site and along the highway. Police from Rajgarh, Dudhwakhara, and Churu police stations, along with the Special Task Force (STF) and a significant number of additional police personnel, were deployed. To maintain control and prevent any untoward incidents, police contingents were also summoned from Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar. The heavy police presence ensured that the situation remained under control and no major confrontations occurred.
Allegations Against the Government
State Congress Vice President Rafiq Mandelia criticized the government's handling of the situation. He alleged that the government was neglecting the interests of farmers and failing to address their concerns. Mandelia stated that the farmers were conducting their tractor march peacefully, but the police administration prematurely seized their tractors, which he described as an attempt to suppress the farmers' voices. He urged the government to seriously consider the demands of the farmers.
