CM Devendra Fadnavis forms high-power panel

Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday formed a high-power committee of cabinet ministers to look into the farmers’ unrest. The six-man committee, headed by revenue minister Chandrakant Patil, will hold discussions with the protesters and then submit its proposal to the government.

Members of the newly formed core committee of farmers’ organisations has responded favourably to the government’s decision and conveyed their readiness to sit across table. MP Raju Shetty welcomed the step. “But I will not take any decision on my own. We will meet as a committee soon and take a decision on holding discussions with the government.” Other leaders too have welcomed the step and stated their willingness to talk to the government.

Earlier, on June 3, Mr Fadnavis had tried to broker a solution to the crisis in a late night meeting with some members of the Kisan Kranti Morcha but it backfired with many alleging that it was a bid by him to break the farmers’ unity.

Now that the chief minister is faced with the two-day ultimatum issued by the core committee to accept their demands before June 11, he has decided to hand this responsibility over to his colleagues from the cabinet.

Revenue minister Chandrakant Patil will lead this high power committee, which will include finance minister Sudhir Mungantivar, agricultural minister Pandurang Fundkar, co-operative minister Subhash Deshmukh, irrigation minister Girish Mahajan and transport minister Divakar Ravte.

Mr Patil later said, “The government has already taken a few decisions. But we will meet all the leaders who have an understanding about  farming and discuss the grievances.”

Top body

Generally, high-power committee holds power to take decisions. A ministerial high power committee is equivalent to a cabinet. But this high power committee has no power to take decision. This committee will only hold discussions with members of core committee as well as other persons who have suggestions. It will then submit its proposal to the government so that the cabinet can take a decision on it.