For the third consecutive day, the Opposition Congress hampered proceedings in the Rajasthan Assembly over the issue of compensation for farmers affected by the recent rains and hailstorms. Raising slogans against the government and displaying samples of damaged crops, Congress MLAs created an uproar in the House. Manglaram Godara, Congress MLA from Churu, also began his indefinite fast at the Assembly today. “He will continue to fast till the BJP government announces a proper relief package for farmers and provides compensation for the crops damaged,” said Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee President B D Kalla. The untimely rains and hailstorms in 17 districts across the state over the weekend, has been the main issue of debate in the Assembly over the past three days. Despite having to adjourn the House twice, Speaker Sumitra Singh continued proceedings amid the slogans raised by the Congress MLAs. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has said in Assembly that a detailed relief package will soon be announced. The state government has already declared an interim package for farmers and district collectors have initiated a survey of crops damaged. However, this was not enough to satisfy the Congress, which has demanded that the government immediately announce a compensation package on the basis of the eight-point charter it submitted on Wednesday. The party is demanding a package on the lines of Haryana and Punjab, asking the government to waive farmers’ electricity bills for six months, reimbursing their diesel expenses and setting up fodder camps in affected areas immediately.There was heavy rainfall and hailstorms in several districts across the state including Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur , Bikaner, Jhunjhunu, Churu among others, which damaged wheat, mustard, coriander and other crops.
