Kolhapur, Nov 19 (UNI) Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS), an organisation agitating for the rights of sugarcane farmers, on Sunday held a ‘chakka jam” agitation in various parts of Maharashtra.
The farmers have hit the streets to press for their demand of Rs 400 as the second instalment of grant for last year’s sugarcane and Rs 3500 per ton as the minimum support price for the food crop produced this year.
SSS National President Raju Shetty led the protests at the busy Ankali toll Naka in Hatkanagale of this district.
Addressing mediapersons, Shetty said the SSS had hit the agitation course from September 13..
“But the state government and sugar factory owners haven’t accepted our demands in spite of three meetings held at the district collector’s office. So we took up today’s ‘Chakka Jam’ agitation in sugarcane belt of Kolhapur and Sangli districts and various parts of the state,” he said.
Shetty warned the state goverment that if no decision was taken on the farmers’ demands by November 21, SSS workers will block Pune-Bangalore National Highway.
He said the Shinde-Phadnvis-Pawar government “insensitive” and neglected the farmers’ demands. “Also, neither the state govenrment nor the centre are serious about our demands. They ae busy protecting the sugar factory owners’ interests”.
Later, the police interfered and tried to smoothen the traffic flow.
The SSS protestors also hit the streets at Hatkanagale, Anjali toll Naka, Chaundeshwari Phara, Narsinhwadi, Kabnur, Ichalkaranji, Herwad, Hupari, Vadgaon, Kagal, Gadhinglaj, Chadgad, Shahuwadu, Kodoli, Parties, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Ahamadnagar, Usmanabad, Pune, Beed, Latur, Nandurbar, Nanded, Parbhani, among other places.
