The farmers in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, largely comprising Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu districts, withdrew their 13-day-long agitation early on Thursday after the BJP government agreed to waive crop loans up to ₹ 50,000 and appointed a committee to study the procedure adopted in other States for its replication here.
After the marathon talks with a group of Ministers till late on Wednesday night, CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) announced withdrawal of agitation and appealed to farmers to lift the blockades put up at scores of places on the highways. The sit-in being staged in several towns of the region will also be finished and roads vacated.
AIKS president and Amra Ram, who led an 11-member farmers' delegation in the negotiations, said the State government had agreed to most of the demands regarding procurement of crops at minimum support price and removal of restrictions on the sale of cattle. He appealed to farmers to clear the blockades and allow movement of vehicles.
In addition to the crop loan waiver of ₹ 49,500 crore, the farmers were also demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's report, free electricity for agriculture and increasing farmers' pension from ₹ 500 to ₹ 5,000 per month.
