Nagpur: Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti (VRAS) and Shetkari Sanghatana on Monday came out in support of farmers’ demands of total loan waiver and appropriate price for farm produce. The activists of VRAS and Shetkari Sanghatana gathered in large numbers at Tukdoji Statue Square on Manewada Road and resorted to sloganeering pressing for their demands. The activists destroyed vegetables and fruits as part of their protest against Fadnavis Government. Later, a morcha was taken out and the nearby shopkeepers were urged to close down their establishments in support of farmers. The shopkeepers downed shutters as a mark of support to the agitation.
The Convenere of VRAS Ram Nevale, addressing a meeting at the spot, said that the farmers’ agitation launched since June 1 has rattled the State Government. “Two days ago in a midnight meeting between Puntambe Core Committee and Jiyajirao Suryavanshi, the State Government dangled the promise of loan waiver before October 31. The government has betrayed the farmers by falsely assuring setting up of Agriculture Price Commission and tried to create a split among protesting farmers,” Nevale stated.
“The Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while in opposition had demanded total loan waiver for farmers. During election campaigning also, he had promised farm loan waiver. Then what is the need for forming a committee in this connection? Why no decision of total loan waiver? Formation of a committee amounted to delaying tactics,” Nevale charged.
Economist Dr Shrinivas Khandewale, who was also present, said that the farmers would gain nothing by setting up of Agriculture Price Commission. The Commission lacked statutory powers to decide the issue.
The agitation was participated by Ram Nevale, Dr Shrinivas Khandewale, Rajkumar Nagulwar, Arun Kedar, Arvind Deshmukh, Shyam Wagh, Arvind Kshirsagar, Mukesh Masurkar, and a large number other activists.
