Farmer leader threatens ‘jal samadhi’ against MVA govt
Maharashtra farmers leader Raju Shetti, who was a supporter of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, on Wednesday threatened to undertake a Jal Samadhi (water burial) demanding an adequate compensation for flood-hit people from the Maharashtra government.
Mr Shetti, chief of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS), kickstarted his Panchaganga Parikrama protest march from Chikhli on Monday. On this occasion, he slammed the state government for its failure to provide relief to farmers hit by the recent floods in several parts of Maharashtra.
“In 2019, when floods had hit the district, the then government had waived off farm loans of those whose crops were destroyed. We expect a similar decision from the present government,” Mr Shetti said, adding that farmers were already suffering due to the Covid outbreak and the resultant
economic slowdown.
Saying that the aid given by the state government was meagre, he demanded that farm loans be waived off along with school fees of children of flood-affected farmers.
“If the government does not respond to our demands, we have no option but to resort to Jal Samadhi at Narsobawadi,” he added.
The government had announced financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to farmers repaying loans regularly. However, Mr Shetti alleged that in the 18 months since the announcement, this specific assistance has not been given to farmers. “At least in this situation, help should immediately be given to farmers who repay their loans on time,” he said.