Farmers break barricades in Rajasthan, clash with police over pending subsidy

Farmers taking out a tractor rally in Rajasthan's Hanumangarh district on Wednesday broke through police barricades and allegedly clashed with police while protesting over the payment of subsidy for farm ponds constructed under the Atal Bhujal Yojana.

The farmers raised slogans against the state government during the protest and demanded immediate release of the pending subsidy amount.

The rally began from the Dhan Mandi market, where police had put up barricades to stop the farmers. The protesters pushed aside the barricades, following which a scuffle broke out between some farmers and police personnel.

The tractor rally subsequently passed through the Junction and Town areas before concluding near Bharat Mata Chowk.

The protesters said they had taken loans to construct farm ponds under the Atal Bhujal Yojana, but the subsidy promised under the scheme had "not been paid for a long time". As a result, they said, they were being burdened with loan repayments and interest.

Farmer leaders Raisahab Pachar and Resham Singh Manuka told reporters that they had repeatedly submitted a memorandum to the administrative officials, but their problem had not been resolved.

They said farmers were left with no option but to intensify their agitation.

"The farmers have no option left except an all-out struggle," the leaders said.

The protesters said holding the demonstration ahead of the urban body and panchayat election was a compulsion and warned that the agitation would be intensified if the government failed to address their demand.

A large police force was deployed at the protest site as the rally moved through the town.