It’s been just two days that Rajasthan’s new chief minister Ashok Gehlot announced farm loan waivers, and he has first big challenge in front. On Thursday, farmers were seen protesting against the shortage of urea and even stealing it from the distribution centres in various villages in the Hadauti region. The state government has sought Centre’s intervention in the matter.
Hundreds of Farmers, along with their families, were seen in long queues and moving towards the counters at urea distribution points. There were reports of a stampede in which three farmers sustained injuries. The incident occurred during token distribution in Dei police station premises of Bundi district.
The crowd gathered to around 3,000 in some places and the police had to use force to disperse the unruly farmers. Lokesh Tiwari, an activist, continued protest on the third day on Thursday in front of Chambal Fertilizers and Chemical limited in Gadepan area, demanding adequate supply of urea to the farmers.
Cong’s Farm loan waiver over Urea supply
Some media reports say that against the total target of two lakh metric tons of urea supply in Hadauti for Rabi crop, the agriculture department claimed to have supplied 1.45 lakh metric ton.
Government authorities said that nearly 5 lakh 62 thousand metric tonnes of urea is already in the market and another 2 lakh metric tonne would be supplied very soon.
Gehlot on Thursday evening said the government will take all necessary measures to meet the urea demand of the farmers and will also coordinate with the Centre about the issue.
In the run-up to the polls, the Congress made the hasty promise of farm loan waiver which has already become a nightmare for banks. The party could have chosen the urea shortage issue to address as it affects the crop production and then forces the farmer to take the route for bank loans.
Read more: मंत्रिमंडल गठन को लेकर गहलोत-पायलट में आज से फिर होगा पॉलिटिकली ड्रामा!
