Firing on farmers, dalit agitators; Opp to move adjourn notice

Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Dec 9 (UNI) Senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde today said that the Opposition would move adjournment notice in the State Assembly for discussion on the police firing on farmers at Vani, the Khairlanji dalit massacre and police firing on the agitators protesting desecration of Dr Ambedkar's statue, at various places in the state.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Munde, the BJP leader in the state Legislative Assembly, said that there were at least 21 incidents of police lathi charge and firing on the dalit agitators reported from various parts of the state on the backdrop of desecration of Dr Ambedkar's statue at Kanpur.

Many towns of Maharashtra were put up under curfew, while in several places, prohibitory orders under section 37 (1) were in force, Mr Munde said adding that discussions on these issues were necessary in the House.

The former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister alleged that the Democratic Front (DF) was not 'serious' and held it responsible for the farmers suicides. He claimed that the lower prices of cotton, a major crop in the Vidarbha and Marathwada region, was the main reason behind the farmers suicides in the state.

He pointed out that while the BJP-Sena alliance government during their regime, had purchased cotton at the price of Rs 2300 per quintal, the price was reduced to Rs 1500 per quintal by the DF government.

Mr Munde charged that the government was yet to begin the cotton purchases in the state and said that the delay in purchasing of their produce also building up pressure on the farmers.

There should be atleast 800 cotton purchasing centres in every Zilla Parishad Circle, he said.

Referring to the bumper crop of sugarcane in the state, Mr Munde who is also the Chairman of the Parali based Vadyanath Sugar Factory, said that at least 10-12 tonne sugarcane may left out from crushing and said that this would be another concerning factor for the farmers who were already affected by other issues.

UNI MPJ ADG VD KN1508