About 650 women, who buried themselves neck-deep in ground to oppose the Jaipur Development Authority’s move to acquire land in their village, performed puja on Diwali at the demonstration site.

The farmers of Nindar village on the outskirts of Jaipur are protesting against the acquisition of over 1,300 bighas of land for a housing project, claiming that the compensation offered was not enough.

Puja at protest site

Their demonstration entered the 19th day on Friday as over 1,000 protesters celebrated Diwali and performed Govardhan puja at the protest site.

Nearly 650 women had buried themselves neck-deep in pits. They performed Govardhan puja on Friday at the protest site, Nagendra Singh Shekhawat, a leader of the Nindar Bachao Yuva Kisan Sangarsh Samiti, said.

He said that talks with the government have not been held in the last couple of days due to which more number of protesters have joined the movement and are on a fast.

The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) has taken possession of 600 bighas of land so far and deposited ₹60 crore in a local court as compensation after villagers refused to accept the amount, claiming it did not meet the prevailing market rates.

Around 10,000 houses will be built under the scheme announced in January 2011.

Opposition charge

The opposition Congress had accused the government of failing to reach out to the farmers’ families protesting at the site for 19 days.

State Congress chief Sachin Pilot said, “The government should reach out to the protesters and amicably resolve their issues.”

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