Mumbai: The farmer agitation in Maharashtra is set to intensify in the coming days. The Kisan Sangharsh Samiti met in Mumbai to discuss strategy. The committee has decided to approach tehsil offices in the state on June 5 with tur, sugar and milk that have been imported into the state. These items will then be presented to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. If the government fails to act on the farmers' demands by June 7, the committee will cut the supply of vegetables and milk to cities.
“The state has seen the large-scale production of tur and sugar. But despite this, the government has imported tur from Mozambique and sugar from Pakistan while milk from Gujarat is allowed to be sold in Maharashtra. So farmers will approach the tehsil and district collectors' offices with these items and hand them over to the officers concerned. They will be asked to send it to the chief minister, as he is responsible for the failure of policies,” said Ajit Nawale, leader of Kisan Sangharsh Samiti.
The committee has given the call for an agitation from June 1. “This state government is so insensitive that it is not realising the intensity of our agitation. If the government does not come to discuss issues, we will cut off all the supply of vegetables and milk from June 7,” warned Dr Nawale. The committee has also decided to resort to chakka jams from June 10 if the state government does not accept the demands of farmers. But that agitation programme is yet to be finalised, a committee member said.
Asked about farmers’ strike called by the Kisan Mahasangh, Dr Nawale said that it would support the agitation. “We have some differences with them. But all those protesting on behalf of farmers will have our support,” said Dr Nawale.
The Kisan Sangharsh Samiti has been demanding, among other things, the minimum support price plus fifty per cent rates to farmers, implementation of a complete loan waiver, implementation of assurances given by the Maharashtra government on May 12 in the wake of the farmers' long walk from Nashik to Mumbai. “They have given us assurances again and again. But nothing changes on the ground. We will now force this government to accept our all demands,” said Dr Nawale.
