A year on, farmers prepare for another big agitation against a government that has not kept its word
On the first anniversary of their historic agitation, farmers in Maharashtra are preparing for another big struggle. Demanding that the BJP government in Maharashtra, which bowed before the farmers' movement the whole country watched, keep the promises it made a year ago, farmers blockaded collectorates and tehsil offices. Thousands of farmers took part in the protests held in 25 districts. The farmers warned that if their demands are not met, they will launch another agitation, stopping the supply of milk and vegetables to the cities.
The farmers demanded that the government's assurances, including writing off farm loans, guaranteeing remunerative prices and land rights, and raising welfare pensions, be implemented at once. Bowing before the agitation the farmers began on June 1 last year by stopping milk and vegetable supplies, the government had announced that farm loans would be written off.
On June 6 last year, five people were killed when police fired on farmers protesting in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh in solidarity with the Maharashtra farmers' struggle. As part of the anniversary of the Mandsaur incident, leaders of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee will visit Mandsaur on the 6th.
About five thousand farmers and agricultural workers took part in the protest in front of the Akole tehsil office in Ahmednagar district on Friday. After a big rally led by the CPI(M), the All India Kisan Sabha and the CITU, the farmers gheraoed the tehsil office and poured out milk in front of it in protest. All India Kisan Sabha president Dr Ashok Dhawale, state general secretary Dr Ajit Nawale, Sadashiv Sable and Namdev Bhangre led the protest.
Ashok Dhawale said the government shows no political will to take measures that benefit farmers, and the farming community is deeply angry at the stand of the central and state governments. The crucial demand to write off farm loans for 2016-17 is said to be under the cabinet's consideration. The demand for a minimum support price of Rs 27 a litre for milk has not been considered either. The support price now is Rs 17. People in urban areas buy milk at Rs 55, but farmers do not get what they deserve.
He pointed out that the central and state governments protect only the interests of corporates. Ajit Nawale pointed out that even as the farmers' agitation passes its first anniversary, the government has not kept its promises. The farmers organised the long march to remind the government of its promises. Although the government assured them the promises would be implemented soon, no action has been taken so far, he said.