Kota: Farmers here have launched an indefinite hunger strike demanding compensation and renewal of licenses to opium cultivators.

Hundreds of poppy seed (opium) cultivators from the Hadauti region have been on a dharna in front of the state headquarters of the Central Narcotics Bureau office here under the aegis of the Kisan Sangarsh Samity (KSS) for the last
three days, Samiti spokesman said on Tuesday.

Fifteen of the cultivators whose licenses were cancelled from Baran and Jhalawar districts last year went on a hunger strike for indefinite period on Monday, the spokesman said.

KSS has demanded that cultivators licenses which were cancelled last year should be reissued and the losses suffered by them because of adverse weather conditions should be compensated on sympathetic ground, the spokesman said.

Rajasthan Forest and Environment Minister Pratap Singh Singhvi arrived at the agitation site and held talks with the agitating farmers.
Source : DNA