Peasants firm on strike, call Maharashtra bandh on June 5

Mumbai: Frustrated farmers have threatened to further intensify their strike if their main demand for loan waiver is not fulfilled. They have declared a “Maharashtra bandh” on June 5, which excludes Mumbai. On June 6, they have threatened to lock all government offices and on June 7, they will lock offices of MLAs and ministers. The members of Kisan Kranti have agreed to meet chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss their demands.

On the second day of the strike, Kisan Kranti’s Dhananjay Jadhav of Puntambe village in western Maharashtra refuted any allegations of violence during the agitation. “There was no violence from our side. But the state is using police force against us. We appeal to them to stop using police force. You have to accept our demands else the strike will continue,” he said.

The farmers of Puntambe first passed a resolution in the gram sabha to call for a strike in the backdrop of mounting farmers’ troubles.

Jadhav said that a core group of Kisan Kranti decided that farmers would call for a ban across the state, excluding Mumbai, on June 5. “We are also going to lock government offices on June 6 and offices of MLAs and ministers. We are ready for a discussion with the government but our demands should be fulfilled,” said the farmers’ leader.

Kisan Kranti has warned the government to take immediate steps else the strike will continue. “The farmers are bearing the loss of their produce during the period of the strike. We will force the government to pay compensation for the loss of farmers,” said Jadhav.

The agitating farmers have refused social activist Anna Hazare’s intervention in the matter. “When initially we went to seek help from Hazare on the issue, he did not extend support. Why does he now want to intervene in the matter! We do not need his help. We will speak with the government,” Jadhav said.

The reaction from the farmers’ leader came in the backdrop of Hazare’s statement supporting the strike.Hazare even said that he would speak to the government on the
matter.