As the Mahrashtra farmers’ strike entered its second day on Friday, with the losses to Agriculture Produce Market Committees touching ₹200 crore across Maharashtra, the State government has decided to adopt a wait and watch strategy, hoping that the protest will lose steam.
On Friday, no senior leader from the government chose to make any statement. It was left to Minister of State Sadabhau Khot to reiterate the government’s appeal asking farmers to come forward for talks. Mr. Khot said that the government’s doors were always open for discussion — it was positive about the farmers’ demands.
Meanwhile, a steering committee of the striking farmers held a meeting in Puntamba village of Ahamadnagar district — the first village that had called for the strike — and decided to accept the State’s invitation for talks. A delegation will soon reach Mumbai.
However, the agitation is set to intensify in the coming days with the committee giving a call for ‘Maharahstra Bandh except Mumbai’ on June 5. Only essential services will be allowed to operate but police vehicles will be stopped. All government offices will be locked down on June 6 and offices of MLAs and MPs gheraoed on June 7.
Hazare’s proposal
On Friday, even as social activist Anna Hazare proposed to mediate between farmers and the government, CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, who was in Mumbai to support the strike, said Mr. Hazare should concentrate on his health.
“We want him to remain healthy and take care of himself. Let the farmers continue with the agitation,” he said.
Mr. Yechury said even freedom fighter Bhagat Singh had to explode bombs to get a deaf British government to listen to him. Farmers, by their aggressive agitations, were doing exactly that. Replying to a question on whether farmers should turn to protests such as spilling milk and throwing vegetables on road, Mr. Yechury asked whether they had been left with any option.
The CPI (M) leader said his party extended absolute support to the strike. The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), which was affiliated to his party, had been actively taking part in the protests. “Unless the demands are met, we will make it more aggressive,” he said.
Demanding loan waiver for farmers, Mr. Yechury said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had been misleading the citizens.
“We are not asking financial inclusion for farmers here, but we are asking for relief. What Mr. Fadnavis says is about financial inclusion. He must not mix the two things to confuse farmers. He can bring in schemes for that later, but presently the important point is about providing relief to farmers,” said Mr. Yechury.
