Mumbai: Responding to a two-day agitation call by the steering committee, farmers from across the State hit the streets on Monday, demanding loan waiver. They have threatened to not let the guardian ministers hoist the national flag on Independence Day as they allege that ‘their hands are laden with blood of the farmers who have committed suicide’.
“Nasik, Akola, Kolhapur and Nanded saw protests against the government, which has fooled the farmers in the name of loan waiver,” said Ajit Nawale, convener of the steering committee. The panel was formed after the first-ever farmers’ strike in the State two months ago. Mr. Nawale, along with protesters, blocked the highway in Manmad near Nasik.
Raju Shetty, Lok Sabha MP and leader of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS), the BJP’s ally, too joined the protest in Buldhana’s Khamgaon, home town of Agriculture Minister Pandurang Fundkar.
Similarly, Independent MLA Bachhu Kadu participated in the protest in Vidarbha’s Wardha district.
In the tribal-dominated Palghar district, the Maharashtra Kisan Sabha blocked the highway, while SSS activists staged demonstrations in all tehsils of Kolhapur and Sangli districts.
Shetakari Sanghatana leader Kalidas Aapet staged a road block in Ambajogai of Beed district. “This is just the beginning of the farmers’ agitation. On Independence Day, we will not let the guardian minister touch the tricolor. Anyone other than the minister should do the hoisting,” he said.
Student organisations too extended their support with all major schools and colleges in Nanded district being closed.
“We understand the the situation. Why should we not join them in this fight? We believe that the farmers’ demands are justified,” said Balaji Kaletwad, Maharashtra secretary of the Students Federation of India. Similar protests were held in Mumbai, Talasari, Solapur, Aurangabad, Beed and Nasik.
