Hanuman Beniwal’s Protest Continues Through the Night, Ultimatum Issued to Administration Till January 13

Nagaur:
The farmers’ protest at the Riyanbadi sub-division headquarters in Rajasthan’s Nagaur district continued unabated, with Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) chief Hanuman Beniwal remaining at the protest site with his supporters until the early hours of Monday morning. A photograph from around 4 a.m. on January 12 shows Beniwal surrounded by farmers, underscoring the intensity and resolve of the ongoing agitation.

The protest, led by Beniwal, revolves around a six-point charter of demands, with the issue of gravel (bajri) mining emerging as the most contentious. Despite prolonged discussions with the administration late into the night, no consensus could be reached on this key demand. Following the failed talks, Beniwal issued an ultimatum to the administration, giving it time until January 13 to address the farmers’ grievances, failing which a larger protest has been announced.

Beniwal expressed his displeasure over the delay in initiating talks, alleging that no administrative delegation arrived at the protest site initially. It was only around 2 a.m. that officials reached the venue. A seven-member committee formed by the farmers then held discussions with the administration at the government rest house for nearly two hours. However, the committee returned dissatisfied, prompting officials to once again visit the protest site. While discussions on five of the demands were described as satisfactory, the issue of bajri mining remained unresolved.

Accusing the mining department of siding with mining leaseholders, Beniwal alleged that farmers’ problems were being deliberately ignored. He further demanded that the administration consult senior officials and resume talks with a more concrete approach.

In a strong escalation of his stance, Beniwal demanded the removal of several officials by January 13, including Degana Deputy Jayprakash Beniwal, Ghotan office official Rakesh Sheshma, and certain police personnel from Riyanbadi outpost and Padu Kala police station. He also alleged that an अधिकारी from the mining department was providing protection to the mining mafia and conducting faulty surveys, demanding that an FIR be registered against the officer and a thorough investigation be conducted.

With the deadline now set, the unfolding situation is being closely watched in political and administrative circles, as the protest has the potential to significantly impact both farmer politics and the broader political landscape of Rajasthan in the coming days.