All eyes on today’s core group meet

Mumbai: With no signs of any breakthrough in the state-wide farmer’s strike in sight, all eyes will be on meeting of the newly-formed 21-member core committee of farmer’s organisation on Thursday in Nasik. The new committee was formed after initial rift over the decision of strike by few of its earlier members. As chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had cleared his position over deliberations with farmers, it will remain important to see whether the new core committee has discussions with government or intensifies the farmer’s strike.

Kisan Kranti Morcha, which is an umbrella organisation of the agitating farmers, saw a split on June 3. Few members had called off the strike after late night discussion with CM Fadnavis. Mr Jayaji Suryavanshi, Mr Dhananjay Jadhao and Mr Sandeep Gidde were the members who came into the fire of farmers as well as sympathisers of agitation after they called off the strike. To counter an alleged attempt of government to break the strike, different farmer organisations decided to form new committee. The 21-member committee includes member of parliament Raju Shetty, Shetkari Sangh’s Anil Dhanvat, Shetkari Sanghatanaa’s Raghunathdada patil, farming expert Budhajirao Mulik, Bharatiya Kisan Sabha’s Ajit Navale, well-known agricultural activist Girdhar Patil and others included in the committee.

The committee will decide whether to continue the agitation in current form. The farmer’s are on strike from June 1. The Maharashtra Bandh called by them on June 5 received tremendous support in 11 districts of 3 different regions. Mr Fadnavis had made an appeal to the farmers to come forward for discussion but leaders of the new core committee are firm on their demand for complete loan waiver.