SSS threatens to resume agitation on milk price issue

Kolhapur, Aug 29 (UNI) The Swabhimani Shetakari Sanghatana (SSS) has threatened to intensify its agitation if the state government failed to provide better price to milk supplying farmers by August 31.

Founder of the organisation, MLA Raju Shetty, while speaking to UNI today pointed out that Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had assured that the State Government would initiate action after receiving the Ashok Basak committee report, which was constituted to study the issue, by August end.

The SSS is awaiting Mr Deshmukh's action by August 31 after which the organisation will chalk up its future course of action, Mr Shetty said.

The SSS had launched an indefinite agitation, disrupting the collection of milk by cooperative societies, since June 27 demanding that milk supplying farmers be paid at the rate of Rs 18 per litre as against the present Rs 12.

The stir was called off on June 30 following State Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil's intervention who had assured that the matter would be looked into after the arrival of Mr Deshmukh from abroad, Mr Shetty informed.

Meanwhile, Mr Shetty had recently announced that he was willing to work jointly with Shetkari Sangathana leader Sharad Joshi on farmers issues but wished to maintain the separate identity of his organisation.

UNI