Farmers plan chakka jam on July 1 against Shaktipeeth

Kolhapur: Farmers' leader Raju Shetti on Thursday claimed those opposing the Shaktipeeth highway project are being treated more harshly than 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab, as even Kasab was allowed to present his case, provided a lawyer, and given ‘biryani', but farmers' rtights are being disregarded. Shetti, speaking in Dharashiv on Thursday, said govt is issuing notices and conducting land surveys without farmers' consent, using police force to do so."CM Devendra Fadnavis says there is no opposition to the Shaktipeeth Highway. If that is the case, then why do the administrative officials need to visit farmlands for land surveys with a heavy police force? Are the farmers Veerappan? A highway can't be built without land mapping. We won't allow the survey to take place. If they try to survey the land with the help of drones, then farmers very well know how to use ‘gophan (slingshot)'. Maintaining law and order is govt's duty; we farmers won't be responsible if a law and order situation arises."On Thursday evening, an online meeting of farmers and public representatives opposing the Shaktipeeth Highway took place. The meeting resulted in a unanimous decision to intensify the chakka jam protest on July 1. Participants included MLC Satej Patil, MLA Vishwajeet Kadam, MP Vishal Patil, MP Omaraje Nimbalkar, MP Nagesh Patil, MLA Kailas Patil, MLA Arun Lad, MLA Dilip Sopal, MLA Chandrakant Navghare, MLA Pravin Swami, former MP Raju Shetti, and farmers from all 12 districts.Addressing the meeting, Satej Patil said, "We will raise our voice against Shaktipeeth in the monsoon session of the legislative assembly and legislative council. Along with this, now it is time to fight a battle against govt by taking to the roads. On July 1, a chakka jam protest will be held on the day which is celebrated as Maharashtra Agriculture Day. Police are warned that they should not interfere and harass farmers."Meanwhile, minister Hasan Mushrif told the media in Kolhapur on Thursday, "Shaktipeeth is a dream project of CM Devendra Fadnavis. Farmers and public representatives will be taken into confidence. Three or four different options will be put forward. Where there is opposition, a different alignment will be made, and the highway will be constructed."Kolhapur: Farmers' leader Raju Shetti on Thursday claimed those opposing the Shaktipeeth highway project are being treated more harshly than 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab, as even Kasab was allowed to present his case, provided a lawyer, and given ‘biryani', but farmers' rtights are being disregarded. Shetti, speaking in Dharashiv on Thursday, said govt is issuing notices and conducting land surveys without farmers' consent, using police force to do so."CM Devendra Fadnavis says there is no opposition to the Shaktipeeth Highway. If that is the case, then why do the administrative officials need to visit farmlands for land surveys with a heavy police force? Are the farmers Veerappan? A highway can't be built without land mapping. We won't allow the survey to take place. If they try to survey the land with the help of drones, then farmers very well know how to use ‘gophan (slingshot)'. Maintaining law and order is govt's duty; we farmers won't be responsible if a law and order situation arises."On Thursday evening, an online meeting of farmers and public representatives opposing the Shaktipeeth Highway took place. The meeting resulted in a unanimous decision to intensify the chakka jam protest on July 1. Participants included MLC Satej Patil, MLA Vishwajeet Kadam, MP Vishal Patil, MP Omaraje Nimbalkar, MP Nagesh Patil, MLA Kailas Patil, MLA Arun Lad, MLA Dilip Sopal, MLA Chandrakant Navghare, MLA Pravin Swami, former MP Raju Shetti, and farmers from all 12 districts.Addressing the meeting, Satej Patil said, "We will raise our voice against Shaktipeeth in the monsoon session of the legislative assembly and legislative council. Along with this, now it is time to fight a battle against govt by taking to the roads. On July 1, a chakka jam protest will be held on the day which is celebrated as Maharashtra Agriculture Day. Police are warned that they should not interfere and harass farmers."Meanwhile, minister Hasan Mushrif told the media in Kolhapur on Thursday, "Shaktipeeth is a dream project of CM Devendra Fadnavis. Farmers and public representatives will be taken into confidence. Three or four different options will be put forward. Where there is opposition, a different alignment will be made, and the highway will be constructed."