Farmers divided as one group decides to call off agitation

It is believed that Devendra Fadnavis has assured the farmers of a loan waiver scheme

Though a section of the farmers have called off their stir following a marathon round of negotiations with a state government team led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, those from Nashik region are yet to take a call on whether to end the agitation. Farmers’ representatives from Nashik will meet on Sunday to decided on the future course of the stir. Shetkari Sanghatana state president Anil Ghanwat, Giridhar Patil, legislator J.P. Gavit and zilla parishad member Amruta Pawar will be the key speakers at Sunday’s meet. These leaders said on Saturday that the government was causing a rift among thestriking farmers .

Meanwhile, another faction of the farmers decided to call off their strike following what they called “satisfactory talks with the government”. The announcement came after five hours of negotiations between Fadnavis and leaders of the Kisan Kranti core committee. “We are open to a farm loan waiver. We shall set up a committee for the purpose which will include farmers' representatives and take a decision by October 31,” Fadnavis told reporters.

Kisan Kranti leaders said that nearly 70 per cent of their demands have been met by the government. All plans to intensify the agitation have been cancelled.

The Kisan Kranti decision was greeted with the bursting of crackers by farmers as they returned to the fields. Kisan Kranti has assured that supplies of milk, fruits, vegetables and foodgrains, which had been disrupted, will resume from Sunday.

But Kisan Sabha leader Raju Desale said that the core committee of the outfit will meet at the Nashik APMC on Sunday to take a call on the Kisan Kranti decision. “We will hold a meeting on Sunday evening to decide our future strategy,” Desale said.