Jaipur: Farmers protesting the non-payment of pending subsidy for diggis (ponds) constructed under the Centre’s Atal Bhujal Yojana broke police barricades and clashed with personnel during a tractor rally in Hanumangarh on Wednesday, warning of a “do-or-die fight” if govt failed to release the dues. They also warned that they would oppose BJP govt in the upcoming urban local body elections if their demands were not met.The tractor rally began from Town Dhanmandi, where police had put up barricades to stop the protesting farmers. The farmers pushed aside and threw away the barricades before proceeding through the town areas. The rally later culminated near Bharatmata Chowk. A heavy police force was deployed during the protest.The farmers raised slogans against the state govt and demanded immediate release of the pending subsidy. Under the scheme, farmers were to receive Rs 3 lakh per diggi. As many as 410 diggis were approved for 2025-26, while 829 were sanctioned in 2024-25.Farmer leader Resham Singh Manuka said farmers had taken loans to construct the diggis in anticipation of receiving the subsidy. “Due to the non-payment of the subsidy, farmers are being crushed under the burden of interest and debt,” he said, demanding that govt release the pending amount at the earliest.Manuka also warned that farmers would oppose BJP govt in the upcoming urban local body elections if their demands were not addressed.Manuka said they had submitted memorandums several times to the district collector, ADM, the agriculture minister, the chairperson of the Kisan Aayog and other officials, but their grievances remained unresolved.Farmers said they were left with no option but to intensify their agitation. They said holding the protest during the election period was a compulsion and warned that the movement would be intensified further if govt failed to act on their demand.
