Farmers’ groups block roads in 21 districts in Maharashtra

But failed to make any major impact as the agitation was limited only to a few hours

The Akhil Bharatiya Kisaan Sabha (ABKS) along with 11 other farmer outfits organised demonstrations and chakka jam (road blocks) in 21 districts of the state despite rain on Sunday, but failed to make any major impact as the agitation was limited only to a few hours. Another farmer outfit, Rashtriya Kisaan Mahasangh (RKM), also blocked roads in several districts as part of their 10-day nationwide strike, which ended on June 10.

In an earlier protest, farmers spilt milk on a road at Khed Shivapur in Pune on June 1. (HT FILE)

ABKS said they will continue to agitate until their demands for giving relief to the distressed farmers are fulfilled. The outfit will also try to include more organisations working for the cause of agrarian community in future agitations.

The farmers’ agitations this time have completely failed to make any impact in the state as compared to the last year’s farmers’ strike that had forced the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government to declare farm loan waiver. ABKS was part of the unprecedented farmers’ strike called from June 1 last year. The left-aligned outfit also helped organise the long march of tribal farmers from Nashik to Mumbai, earlier this year. The 10-day long strike called by RKM too has failed to yield any fruitful result.

They have been demanding complete loan waiver for the distressed farmers, implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission for better prices of crops, among others. “Despite rains, we held protests around 21 districts and blocked roads and held demonstrations. We want farmers to get fair prices for their produce, especially dairy farmers. The state government has declared ₹27 per litre as minimum milk price, but dairy farmers are getting only ₹17 per litre,” said Ajit Nawale, general secretary, ABKS.

“We will continue to agitate until our demands are met. We will soon call a meeting to decide our future course of action,” Nawale added. Sandeep Gidde Patil, core committee member, RKM, said the protests were held at Ahmednagar, Nashik, Jalgaon, Buldhana and parts of Pune district on Sunday. The future plans for agitation is going to be decided very soon, he added.