Congress slams Maharashtra Government for suppressing Konkan farmers’ protest

The Maharashtra Congress on Friday slammed the BJP-led Mahayuti Government for suppressing a protest march seeking financial assistance for mango and cashew farmers from the Konkan region, asserting that the agitation would continue till their demands are met.

State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal claimed that even before the march began, the police detained several leaders and activists, including Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana president and former MP Raju Shetty, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha leader Mahadev Jankar, Shiv Sena’s Vinayak Raut, and Sena MP Arvind Sawant, among others.

He said that farmers cultivating mango and cashew in Konkan were facing severe hardship and had been agitating for the past three months seeking financial assistance.

A protest march was organised from Girgaum Chowpatty in south Mumbai to the official residence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, ‘Varsha’, to press for their demands.

“The Congress has extended full support to the farmers’ agitation. The Government is trying to suppress the voices of farmers, workers and the Opposition by not allowing democratic protests and marches,” Sapkal alleged.

He said the protesters were demanding Rs 5 lakh per hectare compensation for mango farmers and Rs 3 lakh per hectare for cashew cultivators.

“The struggle will continue until these demands are met,” he said.