Ill health no deterrence for these protesting peasants in Jaipur

JAIPUR: Twenty-four-year-old Bansidhar Sharma wasted no time in returning to Ninder from Kanwatiya Hospital where he was rushed on Monday morning after he vomited twice while protesting against the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) demanding de-acquisition of land.

Visibly weak Sharma entered into the neck-deep pit where he had been sitting since last eight days like 55 other farmers in protest under the unrelenting heat. Sharma who owns a house in Lal Bohra Ji Ki Dhani said, "Nearly 10 years ago, our family was displaced from Sahipura Village due to drought. After working hard in Delhi. me and my brother constructed this house. If government demolishes our house, our lives will be destroyed. I have no option left but to protest till I die," he said.

Sharma is not the only one willing to risk his health to protect this land. Sixty-year-old Mal Chand Bohra was also taken to same hospital when he complained of chest pain. He too has returned and joined the protest.

"After taking medicine, I joined the protest back and sat in the pit. I have two bigha of land.My family's livelihood depends on farming. State government's idea to take farmers land to develop housing colony is inhuman," he said.

So far, health of more than 14 farmers has deteriorated as they are protesting since eight days sitting in pits. On October 7, these farmers also gave up eating to intensify the protest after state government ignored their demands. Farmers protesting at Nin der have begun to get skin infections. Many farmers have got rashes and boils in their legs but they are not willing to give up.

Eighty-five-year-old Daffa Devi said, "I have been suffering from continuous itching and rashes on my body . This suffering is bearable, but the loss which state government is giving to farmers is irreparable. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is announcing to provide houses to poor, at the same time, BJP government is demolishing houses, which are already constructed." As days of protests are progressing, the number of farmers at Ninder is also increasing. Many farmers, who surrendered their land before to JDA, have also joined the protest and demanding de-acquisition.