The month-long demonstration over farm irrigation supplies in Gharsana took a decisive turn on Saturday as thousands of demonstrators gathered in the local grain market. Protesting under the banner of the Khet Bachao Kisan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, the gathering witnessed the arrival of Rashtriya Loktantrik Party chief Hanuman Beniwal, sharply raising political and administrative stakes across the border district.
Thirty-One Days on the Streets Demanding Canal Water
Farmers across the Gharsana belt have remained on the agitation path for 31 consecutive days, demanding an adequate share of canal water to sustain their standing crops. On Saturday, villagers from across the rural belt poured into the Gharsana grain market in massive numbers to deliberate on the trajectory of the standoff. Local representatives stressed that the delay in releasing water directly imperils agricultural livelihoods, leaving the farming community with little choice but to intensify their prolonged push against administrative inaction.
Beniwal Sets 9:30 PM Deadline and Announces Sri Ganganagar March
Addressing the massive gathering from the dais, Hanuman Beniwal took aim at the administration over its handling of rural grievances and water management. He demanded an immediate, workable resolution to the irrigation crisis, asserting that agrarian demands cannot be kept in administrative limbo.
Beniwal issued a clear ultimatum to authorities, marking 9:30 PM as the deadline for official action. He warned that if a credible solution is not delivered within the stipulated timeframe, the agitation will escalate into an all-out road blockade. Furthermore, he declared that thousands of farmers will commence a collective march from Gharsana toward the district headquarters at Sri Ganganagar, threatening to paralyze key regional corridors.
Police on High Alert Ahead of Crucial Deadline
With thousands assembled in the grain market and the threat of an inter-city march looming, police personnel have stepped up security across the subdivision. Heavy police deployment has been stationed around the rally venue and connected arterial routes to prevent law and order breakdowns.
Senior administrative officers are tracking developments closely as the clock ticks toward the 9:30 PM ultimatum. If formal talks fail to yield an agreement on canal water distribution, the standoff risks spilling over into broader highway closures and widespread disruption across the district.
