Talk not lathicharge farmers, CPM tells Raje

New Delhi, Oct 17 (UNI) The CPI (M) today criticised the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in Rajasthan for using the army to put down a farmers' struggle in the state.

''It is shocking that the BJP government is utilising the army against the farmers struggle,'' the CPI (M) polit bureau said in a statement.

Condemning the lathicharge on farmers at Gharsana in Sriganganagar district yesterday, the party said the protestors were only demanding implementation of an agreement to supply water for the Rabi crop.

Instead of meeting the ''legitimate demands'' of the farmers, the state government has sought to ''suppress'' their movement, the polit bureau said.

The army was deployed and curfew imposed in the area, it said while demanding talks with the farmers' leaders after releasing them from custody for implementing the agreement.

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