Opposition parties to stage dharna on Feb 27 on farmers issue

Yavatmal, Maharashtra, Feb 21 (UNI) Opposition parties will stage a ''dharna'', to protest against the government's ''anti-farmers policies'', here on February 27 when Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is scheduled to address the concluding function of the ''Kisan Jagaran Yatra''.

Yavatmal legislator Madan Yerawar told a press conference here today that the decision was taken during a meeting which was convened to chalk out an action plan to draw the government's attention to the plight of farmers in the region.

Among those who attended the meet were BJP district president Divakarrao Pande, Mr Yerawar, Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Rathod, Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti president Kishore Tiwari, PWP general secretary Ashok Bhutada, Shivni Gram Panchayat sarpanch Mohan Jadhav, Gondwana Gantantra Party president Niranjan Mashram, and others.

''We will stage a dharna in front of the Collectorate on February 27 to register our protest against the DF government's apathy towards the debt-ridden cotton farmers from Vidarbha,'' Kishore Tiwari said.

The package of Rs 1075 crore, announced by the government for the debt-ridden farmers, is an eye wash and not a single paisa has so far been paid, he alleged.

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