Farmer’s note: Do not cremate me till CM bends

IN HIS SUICIDE NOTE, NASHIK FARMER ASKS HIS FAMILY NOT TO CONDUCT HIS LAST RITES UNTIL LOANS ARE WAIVED AND MAHA CM FADNAVIS VISITS THEM

MUMBAI : A farmer in Solapur hanged himself from a tree near his home, and has left a note saying he should not be cremated until the chief minister visits his village and meets the demands of the farmers.

In his suicide note, farmer Dhanaji Jadhav said he owed money to banks and moneylenders. He also requested his family not to conduct his last rites until farmers’ loans were waived and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met them personally.

The suicide note read: “I am a farmer, Dhanaji Chandrakant Jadhav. I am committing suicide today. Please take my body to my village and do not cremate me till CM Devendra Fadnavis comes here.”

Solapur collector Rajendra Bhosale confirmed the farmer’s suicide note said his body should not be cremated until the chief minister visits and announces a loan waiver for the farmers.

As the farmers’ strike enters its eighth day, the Kisan Kranti Morcha — a 21-member core committee of farmers’ outfits — is likely to come up with plans to intensify the agitation.

Swabhimani Paksha chief and Kolhapur MP Raju Shetti, an ally of the BJP-led state government, decided to take the agitation to the national level by calling a meeting of all farmers’ outfits in Delhi on June 16.

Shetti said it was time to remind the BJP of the promises it had made to farmers.

However, the impact of the farmers’ strike has decreased over the past few days. The supply of vegetables, milk and fruits to Mumbai and other cities improved.

Following protests started by various farmers’ groups, Fadnavis held talks with the representatives of these groups and promised to waive the loans.