Farmers in Rajasthan have resorted to a unique but bizarre method of protest against the state government for allegedly acquiring their land forcibly, and not paying them adequate amount of compensation.
For three days now, some 50 farmers at Nindar village on Jaipur outskirts have buried themselves up to their waist in mud. The protest has been termed as the ‘Zameen Samadhi Satyagraha’.
Protesting against the acquisition of their farm land by the Jaipur Development Authority for a housing project, the farmers have dug holes and buried themselves inside pits, with women also joining them. The unique protest was preceded by a 15-day dharna which yielded no results.
The land in nindar village is part of a housing project earmarked by the government in 2010. Till date, the Jaipur Development Authority has acquired 14 bighas so far.
While the government has deposited Rs 60 crore in the court as compensation, the farmers have not accepted any money so fa, saying that the compensation offered by the government is according to rates fixed seven years ago.
On Tuesday, two women, Shanti Devi and Manni Devi, collapsed during the agitation, following which the authorities called Nagendra Singh, president of Ninder Bachao Kisan Yuva Samiti, which is leading the protest, for talks.
However, the talks remained inconclusive.
