How Justifiable Is It Caning the Protesting Farmers To Suppress Their Voice?

New Delhi; December 2025: On the occasion of Human Rights Day, the Honourable President of India Mrs. Droupadi Murmu had vehemently reiterated, “There is no peace without justice and there is no justice without peace”.

On the other hand, the Rajasthan government appeared to seek peace by resorting to a lathi charge, without offering justice to the farmers who were protesting against the ethanol factory in Tibbi, Hanumangarh district.

Is it justifiable to suppress the voice of aggrieved farmers without listening to their demands, which they have been raising peacefully for the last 15 months? On Human Rights Day, on December 10th, when people and governments across the world were celebrating the occasion and our honourable President was reminding the world that human rights cannot be swayed from development, the Rajasthan government was allegedly trampling on the human rights of the Tibbi farmers by forcefully using canes and rubber bullets. The police and government administration claim that the farmers’ agitation became uncontrollable, resulting in chaos and direct conflict with the police.

On December 11th, the police resorted to a lathi charge and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse farmers at a Mahapanchayat near the factory premises. The agitated farmers then entered the factory compound and ransacked construction materials. The crowd, which turned restive after the lathi charge, torched about 10 vehicles and damaged three bulldozers.

Balwan Poonia, former MLA from Bhadra, Rajasthan, alleged,

“The use of police force during the farmer’s protest in Tibbi was a deliberate conspiracy by the government. Despite our repeated requests, no district official came for talks. Around 15:00 hours, the patience of the farmers broke loose. This is a direct failure of the district administration. The matter, which could have been resolved through discussion, was escalated by the administration, leading to a condemnable lathi charge. Our aim was to conduct the protest peacefully, but the administration provoked the farmers by refusing to talk. We understand that any protest derives strength from public support, but we will carry this movement forward democratically and firmly”.

The farmers ask: Why did the state government ignore their peaceful agitation for 15 months? What was the government waiting for? Was it testing the farmers’ patience and resilience? Is the government’s indifferent and unresponsive attitude not responsible for the escalation? Isn’t the use of brutal police force to create fear an attack on the people’s voice?

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) states, “The government is now answering questions not through dialogue but through force, fear, and brutality. An attack on farmer leaders is an attack on the voice of the people”.

Strongly condemning the police action, Govind Singh Dotasra, Rajasthan State Congress President, tweeted, “I strongly condemn the brutal police lathi charge on the farmers’ protest in Tibbi, Hanumangarh. The news of injuries to Youth Congress State President and MLA Abhimanyu Poonia and several other farmers fighting for their rights is painful and contrary to democratic values”.

Dotasra alleged, “The BJP wants to suppress the voice and rights of farmers. The government should understand that suppressing farmers’ voices will not resolve their problems but will only make them more vocal. The Congress Party, as always, will stand with the farmers and fight fearlessly to protect their rights”.

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot asked, “Why does the BJP government have such hatred for farmers? Congress will always fearlessly raise the voice of farmers”.

Rahul Kaswan, Member of Parliament from Churu, Rajasthan, tweeted, “Through the lathi charge on farmers and public representatives, the state BJP government wants to crush farmers’ demands through police repression, which is against the democratic system. Farmers across the country and the state are already facing a crisis, and this brutal attitude reflects the government’s anti-farmer mentality. The government should not underestimate farmers. We stand firmly with the farmers protesting for their legitimate demands”.

Official sources have asserted that a Mahapanchayat was held against the ethanol plant being set up at a cost of ₹450 crore by a private company in Rathi Khera village panchayat near Tibbi. Farmers in the surrounding areas have been opposing the factory’s construction for more than 15 months, arguing that it would lead to air pollution and water contamination. They fear that the ethanol plant will cause serious environmental damage, health issues, and loss of livelihoods.

Farmers claim that strong odour and smoke from such factories pollute the air, causing breathing difficulties and eye irritation. Chemical-laden wastewater can enter rivers and groundwater, contaminating drinking and irrigation sources. This can deplete water reserves and lower the water table. Contaminated air and water can lead to serious illnesses, affecting local populations. Farmers fear that their land and lives are at risk, threatening the future of agriculture in the region.

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) Rajasthan State Committee has also extended support and condemned the police action. AIKS State Joint Secretary Dr. Sanjay Madhav stated that the indiscriminate use of tear gas, lathi charge, and aerial firing against peacefully protesting farmers shows that the Bhajan Lal government is working solely in favour of capitalist interests, against farmers, labourers, and the general public.

The Kisan Sabha accused the state government and administration of deliberately escalating the situation despite repeated requests from the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti for dialogue. The AIKS State Committee has warned the government to refrain from repression and demanded immediate talks with farmer leaders, fulfilment of their demands, and free treatment for the injured. They have warned of a state wide movement in support of the Tibbi farmers if these demands are not met.

In a democratic country like India, the government is expected to work for the public’s welfare with their participation and consent. Development forced upon people against their will does not succeed in the long run; it disturbs societal peace and erodes the government’s credibility. Democracy does not mean ‘Dandacracy’ — a system that runs on batons. The ruling establishments should always remember this.

Team Maverick.