Maharashtra: Congress to Launch Statewide Protests on Farmer Issues March 3
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Synopsis
On March 3, the Congress party will initiate a statewide protest to address farmers' grievances, coinciding with the start of the Maharashtra Budget session. The party's leaders criticize the BJP government for its failure to support agricultural pricing and local governance.
Key Takeaways
- Congress to protest farmers' issues on March 3.
- Criticism of BJP for unfulfilled promises on agriculture.
- Plight of farmers selling below minimum support price.
- Local body elections remain delayed for three years.
- Protests planned for March 4 highlighting administrative failures.
Mumbai, Feb 26 (NationPress) The Congress will conduct a statewide protest regarding farmers' issues on March 3, coinciding with the commencement of the Budget session of the Maharashtra Legislature.
State Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal stated, "The situation for farmers in Maharashtra under the BJP-led administration has become increasingly severe, with no assurance of equitable prices for agricultural products. Despite electoral promises of farm loan waivers, the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP coalition has failed to deliver on these commitments. The Congress plans to organize a statewide protest on March 3."
Furthermore, the party intends to hold demonstrations on March 4, aimed at spotlighting the administrative shortcomings as urban development initiatives and essential public services have come to a halt.
Sapkal accused the BJP government of being "anti-farmer" and "pro-corporate".
He pointed out that farmers are compelled to sell soybean at Rs 4,000 per quintal, which is significantly lower than the minimum support price (MSP), and that crops like onion, gram, and cotton are also suffering due to depressed prices.
He criticized the Central government's choice to import tur dal from Australia, contending that this action would undermine local farmers by driving down market prices for their produce.
Sapkal remarked that Maharashtra has not conducted local body elections for the last three years, resulting in a governance void in municipal corporations and local councils.
He alleged that the BJP is intentionally postponing elections to maintain control over the administration.
"Consequently, local officials such as corporators lack decision-making power, and municipal governance has fallen under the sway of Ministers and MLAs, leading to widespread mismanagement. To protest against this, Congress will demonstrate in municipal regions on March 4 to bring public grievances to the government's attention," he added.
Sapkal noted that while the Chief Minister exonerated 106 individuals for roles as Ministers' PAs and PSs, 16 individuals were denied positions due to allegations of being "fixers".
He urged the Chief Minister to publicly disclose the identities of these 16 fixers, as well as the names of the Ministers they served.
He asserted that merely targeting bureaucrats is insufficient—action must be taken against the fixer Ministers as well.
Sapkal further stated that public services have ground to a halt, and administrative inaction has left the populace exasperated.
This desperation even prompted a young man to attempt suicide at the Mantralaya.
He condemned the administration's indifference, accusing revenue department officials of engaging in illegal gatherings at private resorts while governance remains in chaos.
"Officials are reckless, and Ministers are indifferent," he remarked.
