‘Sharad Joshi was a leader of masses’

Wardha: Sharad Joshi, who breathed his last at Pune on Saturday, will long be remembered for pioneering a farmers’ movement that impacted many a decision. It was in Vidarbha that the Shetkari Sanghatana had its roots and which went on to launch agitations in the best interest of farmers.
The movement was started from Wardha in 1981. After its stupendous success, the sanghatana jumped into politics and contested under the banner of Swatantra Bharat Paksh.At one point of time it had five MLAs in the legislative assembly.
Recalling his contribution, former MLA Saroj Kashikar said Joshi was a good organizer and rail roko agitation at Hinganghat launched in 1986 was a testimony to his leadership qualities. Kashikar said 65,000 farmers were in jail and questions were raised about the success of the movement. Still, 15,000 other farmers blocked the railway traffic for six days to seek maximum support price for cotton.
Senior farmer leader Vijay Jawandhiya said he had invited Joshi to Wardha to spearhead the farmers’ movement to which he agreed. And it was after a lot of churning that the Shetkari Sanghatana was born.