Nashik: Adivasis (Tribals) and farmers’ indefinite sit-in agitation (dharna) in front of the district collectorate continued for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, February 27, since the meeting held with four state ministers at Mantralaya “did not reach a consensus on their demands.” This has been reported by The Times of India.
Former CPI (M) MLA and farmer leader from Surgana Jiva Pandu Gavit said the agitation of farmers and tribals from Nashik would continue at the location since the talks in Mumbai on Tuesday failed to yield any positive results.
State revenue minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil led a team of four ministers and government officials who had a three-hour long meeting with Gavit’s CPI(M) delegation. The other three ministers included Nashik guardian minister Dada Bhuse, tribal welfare minister Vijay Kumar Gavit and state forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.
Speaking to TOI, Gavit said, “We discussed our various demands with the four ministers, but no decision was taken. We will continue our strike till our petitions are accepted.”
Among the major demands of the tribals and farmers include giving ownership of forest land to tribal farmers who have been tilling the land for the last many years, introduction of minimum support price of Rs. 2,000 per quintal for onions and withdrawal of ban on onion export as also other several wants related to tribals.
State government officials present at the deliberations said the ministers assured the delegation that the government had taken cognizance of the demands and all steps would be taken to resolve it in a time-bound manner.
The newspaper also reported that government sources said Vikhe-Patil advised Nashik district collector Jalaj Sharma, who was also present, to immediately address the issue raised by the delegation about reduction of land size that was given to tribals under Forest Rights Act.
Related:
Maharashtra Farmers Set Off on Long March Again, to ‘Fight Till Last Drop of Blood’
Maharashtra Farmers dig heels in as govt yet to table assurances in assembly