Nagpur: The Congress took out a massive morcha to Vidhan Bhavan on Tuesday, the second day of the State Legislature’s Winter Session, to highlight failure of BJP-Shiv Sena to check farmers’ suicides and demanding among other things substantial relief to farmers from drought-hit districts, complete farm loan waiver, hike in minimum support prices (MSP) of farm produce including cotton, paddy and soyabean.
The sheer turnout in the morcha left the conspicuously divided BJP-Shiv Sena alliance government rattled.
Addressing the massive morcha, after it was stopped at Old Morris College ‘T’ Point, the Congress leaders warned that they would not let the two Houses transact business until their demands for complete loan waiver and succour to drought affected farmers, are fulfilled.
The massive response to the morcha clearly showed how strongly the Congress has reorganised and re-emerged, and continues to be a force to reckon with in this part of the state. Not only did the Congress succeed in presenting a good show of strength but also left the saffron alliance worried, as was clear from the whispers in the corridors of power at Vidhan Bhavan.
The morcha began fromDeekshabhoomi under leadership of former chief minister, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president and MP Ashok Chavan. The AICC general secretary and in-charge of Maharashtra affairs Mohan Prakash, former chief ministers PrithvirajChavan and Narayan Rane, leader of Opposition in State Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, former president of MPCC Manikrao Thakre, former minister Patangrao Kadam, HarshwardhanPatil, MP Avinash Pande, former MP Vilas Muttemwar, Chandrakant Handore, former ministers NitinRaut and SatishChaturvedi, president of women’s state Congress unit Charulata Tokas, president of state Youth Congress Vishwajeet Kadam, Congress legislators, former ministers, former legislators, office-bearers and activists participated in the morcha.
