At least a dozen people, including Congress leader Sachin Pilot, were injured on Tuesday after they were beaten by the police while marching towards the Rajasthan state assembly in protest against the land acquisition rules in the state and the Centre.
"We are against the land ordinance bill and anti-farmer policies of the BJP. They are arresting us but we will continue to fight. It is undemocratic to lathicharge us, our workers have broken bones," Mr Pilot, the president of the Congress' state unit, told NDTV from inside a police van, as cops took him and others into preventive custody.
The protesters, who were proceeding from Udyog Maidan in Jaipur to the assembly which is currently in session, tried to climb the barricades placed by the police.The police then used force and water cannon to disperse the group, injuring Congress leaders including Mr Pilot among others. Three people were rushed to hospital from the spot.
In September last year, protests were led by civil rights activists Kavita Srivastav and Medha Patkar. Activists believe the bill would just lead to hasty grabbing of land as it takes away the rights of farmers to protest against acquisition of their land, sending them to jail, or even preventing them from going to a lower court.
Rajasthan government has defended the bill saying that it offers more compensation to farmers for their land.
2020 Phone-Tapping Controversy Must Be Investigated: Sachin Pilot Union Minister's Big Illegal Phone Tapping Charge Against Ashok Gehlot Don't Think Rajasthan Budget Can Make Significant Impact On Public: Sachin Pilot 2 French Rafale Jets Collide Mid-Air, Instructor, Pilot Missing "Pivotal Moment": Key Doctor Body Resumes Strike 2 Days After Calling It Off After Night Of Vandalism, Forensic Team Reaches Kolkata Hospital: 10 Points "Pivotal Moment": Key Doctor Body Resumes Strike 2 Days After Calling It Off Navalny's Wife Rejects Finding He Died From "Combination Of Illnesses" After Night Of Vandalism, Forensic Team Reaches Kolkata Hospital: 10 Points Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.