Anger among farmers in Maharashtra is steadily rising. 'Mahalgaar Morcha,' led by former Minister Bacchu Kadu, has blocked the Nagpur-Hyderabad National Highway (NH-44). The movement has garnered support from the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), Kisan Sabha, and Raju Shetti's party.
The farmers' main demands include complete loan forgiveness, immediate compensation for crop losses due to unexpected rain, setting a minimum support price (MSP) for their crops, and providing 6,000 rupees monthly allowance to disabled farmers.
The blockade by protesters has brought traffic to a standstill. Bacchu Kadu has issued an ultimatum to the government to hold talks in Nagpur, rejecting several invitations for dialogue with ministers in Mumbai.
Images of Latur farmer Suresh Chauhan went viral showing him weeping over his devastated soybean crop. Two days of heavy rain and floodwaters had decimated his entire field. Chauhan stated that the government's relief funds have yet to reach him, affecting their ability to celebrate Diwali.
Meanwhile, in Parbhani, enraged farmers pelted stones at the District Collector's car. Police have arrested one individual.
CM Devendra Fadnavis on Farmers' Protest
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed understanding of the farmers' plight and stated that the government has initiated the distribution of a 320 billion rupee relief package. He urged protesters not to disrupt public life and to seek solutions through dialogue.
The CM remarked, "Our goal is not just to forgive loans to relieve banks, but to provide genuine assistance to farmers whose lands and crops have been destroyed." Approximately 6.8 million hectares of crops have been damaged across 29 districts in the state. This agrarian crisis has become a significant challenge for the government ahead of the upcoming local body elections.
