Repression in Sriganganagar

Date: 
Friday, October 29, 2004

Press Statement

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), now in session at Delhi, has issued the following statement:

Condemning Repression In Sriganganagar

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the police firing in Rawla town in Sriganganagar, Rajasthan on October 27 which led to the death of four persons and injuries to eight others. The farmers of the area have been agitating in Ghadsana and other places for adequate supply of water for irrigation from the Gang and Indira Gandhi canal systems. The state government failed to respond to the farmers’ demand despite many requests for intervention to ensure water supply.

The failure of the BJP state government to address the problem led to the widespread agitation. The police has been resorting to force. Cases have been filed against CPI(M) and other leaders. Curfew and deployment of army will not solve the problem.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands an end to the repression unleashed against the people, withdrawal of the false cases against those leading the struggle and an immediate solution to the issue of water supply.