Farmers’ agitation likely to intensify in Maharashtra | india news | Hindustan Times

The farmers’ agitation in Maharashtra is likely to intensify in the coming week, with 12 organisations led by the Left-aligned Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha (ABKS) on Saturday announcing plan to launch their own.

A 10-day strike led by the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh (RKM), also a farmers outfit, is already underway in the state from Friday. While ABKS has not lent support to the ongoing strike, they have planned an agitation from June 5 to June 10.

The protests are likely to lead to a shortage of supplies of vegetables, fruits and milk to the city in the coming days. Though supplies in main whole sale markets are not yet hit, retailers have already started hiking prices of vegetables in the city. ABKS was part of the steering committee of farmers’ organisations that had held strike in June last year.

The strike called by RKM is part of a nationwide protest across 130 cities to highlight the ongoing agrarian crisis and press for demands, including complete loan waiver and higher minimum support price. “Apart from blocking supplies, our supporters also staged road blockades at several places. We have succeeded in affecting 40% supplies to the cities. The police have arrested four activists from Sangamner,” said Sandeep Gidde Patil, core committee member, RKM.

Ajit Nawale, general secretary, ABKS, said the BJP government has no sensitivity towards farmers’ issues.

Despite high production, the Centre has imported tur from Mozambique, sugar from Pakistan and the state government is taking milk from Gujarat and Karnataka, which has hit the farmers here.

“We have decided to gift the chief minister imported tur, sugar and milk on June 5 apart from other forms of agitation. Dr Ashok Dhawale, president, ABKS said he has not seen such an anti-farmer and pro-corporate government in the last 70 years. “Every time we get only an assurance whereas corporates like Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi get away,” Dhawale said.

ABKS had also organised farmers’ long march from Nashik to Mumbai this year.

On Friday too it held protests at more than 20 districts outside tehsildar offices. Dr Ashok Dhawale, president, ABKS said he has not seen such an anti-farmer and pro-corporate government in the last 70 years.