Shiv Sena demands withdrawal of criminal cases against farmers

Farmers spilling milk on the road during their state-wide strike over various demands at a village in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Pic/PTI

Shiv Sena legislators in Maharashtra today wrote to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, demanding withdrawal of criminal cases registered against farmers who had launched a state-wide agitation for loan waiver in June.

"The government announced a loan waiver scheme for farmers only after they protested against the administration's inability to stop farmer suicides. They wanted their long-standing demand of loan waiver to be accepted, for which they went on strike," said senior Sena leader Anil Parab.

The letter said that cases were registered against protesting farmers in police stations across the state during the agitation in the first week of June.

"After the government agreed to their demand of loan waiver, it should withdraw all the cases," it said.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had recently announced that the government will set up a joint committee of legislators from both Houses of Maharashtra legislature to oversee the implementation of Rs 34,022 crore farm loan waiver.