A farmers' rally is being organised on June 8 at Nashik to decide their future strategy
A large section of farmers have simply rejected the Kisan Kranti Morcha’s (KKM) decision to call off the strike after talks with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Farmers from Nashik, Ahmednagar, Parbhani and other parts of the state not only distanced themselves from the decision, but stepped up agitation by resorting to road blocks and protest marches. Farmers from Nashik district burnt the effigy of activist-turned-minister of state for agriculture and marketing Sadabhau Khot.
Farmers from Niphad taluka in Nashik burnt tyres and blocked roads. They also threw potatoes and other vegetables on the road as a mark of protest.
In Parbhani, farmers gathered in a large number to protest against the KKM’s decision to call off the strike and spilt milk on the road. They also staged a rasta roko.
On the other hand, farmers from Puntambe village, which was hogging the limelight for the last two months after the gram sabha’s decision to resort to the strike, protested against the agreement reached between the chief minister and KKM. Instead, they hinted that the agitation will continue in a peaceful manner.
Fadnavis, after a four-hour long marathon meeting, had announced that a committee comprising the representatives of the government and farmers will be set up to announce a decision by October 31 on loan waiver for small farmers. Besides, the decision on revision of milk prices will be taken by June 20 and the act of offering lower than minimum support price to farmers produce will be considered as a criminal act and charges will be framed. Further, he assured that the government will write off interest and penal rate of interest charged on agricultural consumers for non-payment of electricity tariff.
Farmers under the aegis of KKM, which was supported by over 40 other organizations, had begun a strike from June 1 to press for complete farm loan waiver, free electricity, appropriate remunerative prices for their produce, grants for irrigation, pension for farmers who are 60 years and above, and implementation of the Swaminathan Committee recommendations. The strike, which was marred by stray incidents of violence in some districts, affected the functioning of wholesale markets, agricultural produce market committees due to lack of arrival of fruits and vegetables.
However, the Maharashtra Kisan Sabha led by Comrade Ajit Nawale who left the meeting halfway with Fadnavis, told DNA, ‘’A farmers' rally is being organized on June 8 at Nashik to decide future course of action. It will be attended by farmer leaders including Raju Shetty, Bachu Kadu, Raghunathdada Patil. Fadnavis had not offered anything new. The loan waiver is needed for all and farmers should not be divided between small and big and those from drought areas and from irrigated ones.’’ He alleged that the CM’s announcement was an eye wash. The government also needs to implement the Sawaminathan Commission report without further delays, he said.
Furthermore, leading agriculture expert Dr Budhajirao Mulik opposed the decision to call off the strike saying that the strike will continue till the government issues a notification on crop loan waiver, remunerative price for agricultural produce and pension scheme for farmers above 60.
Meanwhile, opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party have slammed the government for engineering a split in the agitating farmers and said Fadnavis had reiterated his promises without actually taking decision on the ground.
State Congress chief Ashok Chavan alleged that the state government was insensitive towards the issues of farmers.
Munde demanded that the crop loan waiver be immediately announced instead of waiting till October 31.
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