Sugarcane farmers in west Maharashtra on Wednesday vandalised buses and staged rasta roko across the State in protest against the low price given by the government.
Meanwhile, Raju Shetty, leader of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna, the protesting organisation, has called a two-day State-wide bandh, demanding better prices.
Giving an ultimatum to the government, Mr. Shetty threatened that protests would intensify if the demands were not met. “Factory owners should look for a practical solution. There is talk of the situation being politicised, but if farmers get their due, anybody can take credit,” he said, addressing a farmers’ rally in Karad.
Even as Mr. Shetty requested farmers to maintain peace, more than 50 government and private buses were vandalised, and trucks burnt, across the State. The Mumbai-Bangalore highway (NH4) was blocked by protesting farmers.
The farmers have demanded Rs. 3,000 per quintal of sugarcane. Last year, the prices ranged from Rs. 2700 in west Maharashtra to Rs. 2,300 in the Marathwada region.
