Farmers issue 20-day ultimatum over ethanol factory in Hanumangarh in Mahapanchayat

During the discussions, the farmers demanded the cancellation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed for the ethanol factory and the immediate withdrawal of cases registered against protesting farmers.The administration assured the leaders that the demands would be forwarded to the State government for consideration, though no immediate decision was taken.Farmer leaders warned that another Mahapanchayat would be convened if their demands were not met. They also announced plans to hold a Mahapanchayat in Sangaria on January 7 if the matter remains unresolved.Senior farmer leader Rakesh Tikait asserted, “The United Front and the farmers of the country stand with the Joint Committee of farmers. There is opposition to the ethanol factory. If the people of the area do not want the factory, then it will not be allowed to be built here. The local committee is in talks with the administration, which should have this plant removed.”Farmer leader Mangej Chaudhary said that during the talks, the leaders reiterated that the construction of the ethanol factory would adversely affect agriculture in the region.Protests against the plant have been ongoing for over a year.A largely peaceful agitation continued for nearly ten months, from September 2024 to June 2025, but intensified in July 2025 after the company began constructing a boundary wall at the site.On December 10, farmers staged a large protest outside the Tibbi Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s office.Later in the day, hundreds of farmers reached the factory site with tractors, where the boundary wall was damaged, and clashes broke out with the police. To disperse the crowd, police used tear gas and later resorted to a lathi charge.



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