Kolhapur, Nov 20: Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS), an organization advocating for the rights of sugarcane farmers, conducted a ‘chakka jam’ agitation on Sunday in various parts of Maharashtra.
Farmers took to the streets to emphasize their demand for Rs 400 as the second installment of the grant for last year’s sugarcane and Rs 3500 per ton as the minimum support price for the food crop produced this year.
Raju Shetty, the National President of SSS, spearheaded the protests at the bustling Ankali toll Naka in Hatkanagale district.
Speaking to the media, Shetty highlighted that the SSS had initiated the agitation on September 13. “Despite three meetings at the district collector’s office, both the state government and sugar factory owners have not accepted our demands. Therefore, today’s ‘Chakka Jam’ agitation was organized in the sugarcane belts of Kolhapur and Sangli districts and various parts of the state,” he explained.
Shetty issued a warning to the state government, stating that if no decision was reached on the farmers’ demands by November 21, SSS workers would block the Pune-Bangalore National Highway.
He criticized the Shinde-Phadnvis-Pawar government as “insensitive” and accused them of neglecting the farmers’ demands. Shetty added, “Neither the state government nor the center are serious about our demands; they are busy protecting the interests of sugar factory owners.”
Subsequently, the police intervened to ease the traffic flow. SSS protestors also took to the streets in various locations, including Hatkanagale, Anjali toll Naka, Chaundeshwari Phara, Narsinhwadi, Kabnur, Ichalkaranji, Herwad, Hupari, Vadgaon, Kagal, Gadhinglaj, Chadgad, Shahuwadu, Kodoli, Parties, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Ahamadnagar, Usmanabad, Pune, Beed, Latur, Nandurbar, Nanded, Parbhani, among others.
