Congress MLA Shimla Nayak and several farmers and party workers were detained in Rajasthan’s Anupgarh on Sunday after police stopped them from proceeding towards Suratgarh, where they planned to protest during Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma’s visit. The protesters, carrying black flags and demanding irrigation water for the region, were stopped at the Ghaggar river bridge, where police had erected barricades.
A scuffle broke out after some protesters attempted to cross the barricades when police prevented them from proceeding further. Nayak and several others were subsequently detained and taken to a dharamshala in Anupgarh, while additional police personnel were deployed in the area to prevent the situation from escalating.
Stopped on way to Suratgarh
Farmers in the Anupgarh area have been protesting for several days over the availability of irrigation water, and Nayak had joined them in seeking to raise the issue during the chief minister’s programme. The protesters planned to show black flags to Sharma as part of their demonstration.
Police intercepted the group at the Ghaggar river bridge on the Anupgarh-Suratgarh route. Deputy Superintendent of Police Jaiprakash Beniwal and other officials were present as protesters and police personnel engaged in a heated exchange before the detentions.
Nayak said the group had intended to peacefully register its protest before the chief minister but was prevented from reaching Suratgarh. “We were going to register our protest by showing black flags to Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, but the administration stopped us on the way and detained us,” she said.
The Congress MLA maintained that the agitation would continue until farmers received the irrigation water they were demanding. “We will take water that is the right of farmers,” Nayak said, adding that the protesters would decide their next course of action.
Farmers press water demand
The protest has centred on farmers’ demand for adequate irrigation water for agricultural areas in and around Anupgarh. The issue has also affected neighbouring Gharsana, with the Congress accusing the state government of failing to adequately respond to farmers’ concerns.
Sunday’s confrontation escalated when some protesters tried to move past the police barricades. Police personnel stopped them, leading to pushing and shoving before Nayak and other demonstrators were taken into detention.
The protesters were later taken to a dharamshala, where administrative officials held discussions with them. Police maintained a heightened presence in the area as authorities sought to prevent further disruption during the chief minister’s programme.
Gehlot attacks government
Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot condemned Nayak’s detention and accused the BJP government of ignoring farmers in Anupgarh and Gharsana. He said the government should address their demand for irrigation water rather than prevent elected representatives and farmers from protesting.
Gehlot said Nayak was raising the concerns of farmers when she was detained and demanded her immediate release. He accused the state government of attempting to suppress voices questioning it over the water issue.
The former chief minister also urged the government to initiate talks with the protesting farmers and find a solution to their irrigation requirements. The Congress has sought to put the water issue at the centre of its attack on the Bhajanlal Sharma government, while the protesters have indicated that their agitation could continue if their demands are not addressed.