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Black Diwali for farmers in Sriganganagar, Rajasthan
Protest against water scarcity by farmers.
BY OUR CORRESPONDENT
October 21 2006
The nation is all set to celebrate the festival of lights with a bang. But for the farmers in Rajasthan’s remote Sriganganagar, it will be all darkness around them. Farmers here will observe Black Diwali as protest against the BJP-led government's indifference towards demand of water for their crops. The ryots have also called for the release of those arrested on October 10, 2006 for agitating against the state government’s policies.
Two years have passed since the farmers in Sriganganagar started their stir for water, say reports. This is the third consecutive year and they are still demanding irrigation water for their rabi crop. According to reports, the rabi crop is on the verge of withering due to lack of water. The Rajasthan state government turning a deaf ear to their demand and woes has prompted the farmers to campaign for observing a black Diwali without lights.
According to reports reaching here, farming activities in Sriganganagar have come to a grinding halt and the crop is withering. To add to heir woes, most farmer families are worried about their kin in jails following clashes with police on October 16. And to top it all, they have been living under curfew till yesterday.
The Rajasthan government, however, is not even thinking of lifting the curfew orders even though the situation is normal. According to reports quoting the police, the day curfew would be lifted only when normalcy returns.
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