Maharashtra Farmers End Strike After Meeting State CM:- After holding a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the farmers of the State have withdrawn their strike after two days.
Fadnavis promised to take a series of measures to meet their demands. Last night, after the CM invited them for discussion, a delegation of farmers from Puntambe village had come to Mumbai to meet Fadnavis. After a four-hour long discussion, Fadnavis announced the decision through his Twitter account.
Interaction with media after the discussion with representatives of farmers https://t.co/fFpaz8vMXK
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) June 2, 2017
The development was confirmed by Minister of State for Cooperation and Marketing Sadabhau Khot.
Addressing the media persons, Fadnavis after the meeting told, “We are open to a farm loan waiver. We shall set up a committee for the purpose which will include farmers representatives and take a decision by October 31.”
Nearly 70% of their demands have been met by the government and accordingly the “successful strike” was called off immediately. A strike was being planned by the farmers from June 1 to press for their demands like loan waiver and free electricity.
Fadnavis said, “the strike is withdrawn and there should not be any violent protests against the state anymore”.
Sandeep Gidde, who leads the delegation of Puntambe farmers said, “The marginal outstanding loan of the farmers will be waived. By October 31, the necessary steps will be taken. The act of offering lower than minimum support price to farmers produce, it will be considered as criminal act and charges will be framed, are the demands state government has agreed to.”
The various organizations of farmers and small factions have participated in the meeting. Meanwhile, a few group of farmers distanced themselves from the decision of calling off of the strike. The CM said, “More reforms such as revising of milk prices to giving farmers a benefit, formation of state-level commission for agricultural costs and prices, appointment of independent observer on dairy business, setting up of more cold storages and agro-processing units, are the promises made by the state government.”
Also, the financial assistance to the family members of farmer Ashok More, who died on June 1 when police were dispersing the protesting mob, will be provided by the State Government, said Fadnavis.
“Though the farmers had withdrawn the strike, the cases against genuine farmers alone, will only be withdrawn by the state government. Those who were non-farmers and deliberately tried to create a ruckus will not be spared,” said Fadnavis.
Big cities like Mumbai and Pune had started to face the threat of shortage of vegetables and milk. As a part of the protest, farmers in Nashik, Solapur, Ahmednagar, Pune, Kolhapur and Wardha districts threw milk, foodgrains and vegetables on roads. Vehicles carrying vegetables and fruits to Mumbai were stopped and ransacked.
Farmers Demands:
- Complete waiver of farm loans
- Free electricity
- Appropriate remunerative prices for their produce
- Grants for irrigation
- Pension for farmers who are 60 years and above
- Implementation of the M.S. Swaminathan Committee recommendations
The farmers in Nashik were also opposing the proposed Mumbai-Nagpur “Samruddhi Corridor” (expressway), which will require acquisition of farmland.
Before a good monsoon last year, the farmers in the state faced three consecutive droughts. Currently, they are at observing losses as tur daal prices have crashed due to a bumper crop this time.
The agitation has been supported mainly by Opposition Congress - Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), as well as ruling coalition partner Shiv Sena.
SUPRAJA
