Mumbai: The farmers’ agitation in Maharashtra turned violent on Monday with confrontations flaring up between cultivators and the police.
In one such incident, a milk tanker was set afire on the Nashik-Ahmednagar border. Also, activists and the authorities clashed in Kolhapur and protesters burned tires at various sites during protests.
Furthermore, various agricultural produce market committees downed their shutters on Monday and big dairies like Gokul, Krishna, Sonai and Rajhans in Ahmednagar failed to collect milk.
Also, 27 milk tankers travelling from Kolhapur to Mumbai had to be provided with Z security owing to the stir.
The bandh, which was called by farmers’ organisations, has received with a warm response in the northern and western parts of the state and certain areas in the Marathwada region.
Reacting to the state of affairs, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, said, “The government is ready to talk to farmers, but we won’t hold discussions with political leaders.”
Farmer groups have been on strike from June 1 over various demands, including a complete loan waiver. In a bid to intensify their protest, the farmers called for the organisation of a ‘Maharashtra bandh’ on Monday, and received an overwhelming response across the state.
