CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on February 22.

THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns the repression let loose by the Vasundhara Raje-led government in Rajasthan against protesting kisans. Hundreds of kisan leaders and activists belonging to the All India Kisan Sabha have been arrested and false cases foisted against them. The arrested include Amra Ram, member of the Central Committee of the CPI(M) and former MLAs Pema Ram and Pavan Duggal.

They were arrested while marching towards the state capital Jaipur. The kisan leaders were protesting against the reneging by the BJP government on the assurances that it had given after their struggle in September 2017 for loan waiver, remunerative prices etc.

Bulldozing even the minimum democratic right to protest, the Raje government has once again revealed its authoritarian character by using the police against the kisan movement and arresting the leaders. This shows the desperation of a government that is increasingly getting isolated from the people.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands the immediate release of all those arrested, withdrawal of false cases and acceptance of the legitimate demands of the Kisan Sabha.