Rajasthan farmers ready for talks

The Kisan Beopar Majdoor Sangharsh, who had refused to cremate the body of a farmer killed during clashes with the police six days ago, finally relented.

The Kisan Beopar Majdoor Sangharsh, who had refused to cremate the body of a farmer killed during clashes with the police six days ago, finally relented on Tuesday and cremated the body. The decision came after the government sent formal invitations to the leaders for talks on the contentious issue of sharing water on November 2.

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Home minister Gulab Chand Kataria said the leaders who have been sent invitations include Sant Lekha Singh, Het Ram Beniwal, Saheb Ram Punia — all communists leaders — and PCC chief BD Kalla.

Sant Lekha Singh, the chairman of the samiti, and Kalla said they had accepted the invitation for talks and that they would put forward the demands of the farmers.

Earlier in the day, Chandu Ram was cremated at his native village in Tenluniminor, Ghadsana district, after the government gave his family an assurance of Rs 5 lakh as compensation and employment to one of his family members. Lekha Singh, however, clarified that the farmers’ movement would continue to force the government to accept their other demands, including supply of legitimate share of water of phase one, release of samiti leaders from jails, etc.