UT Sena leads farmers’ protests on Diwali day

Yavatmal: Terming the Eknath Shinde-led state government as anti-farmer, Shiv Sena workers led by new entrant to Uddhav Thackeray camp Sanjay Deshmukh observed ‘black Diwali’ by staging protests in front of Ner tehsil office on Monday.

The protesters accused guardian minister Sanjay Rathod of inaction in ensuring timely help to rain and flood hit farmers.

“The government had assured the affected farmers to provide kits of essentials for Rs100 before Diwali. However, neither any financial assistance nor the kits have reached the farmers as promised,” said Deshmukh.

Talking to media here, Deshmukh said the state government made hollow promises and the farmers were forced to observe black Diwali. “We have demonstrated our anguish by eating ‘chatni bhakri’ on the most auspicious day of Laxmi puja,” he said.

Later, a delegation submitted a memorandum of demands to tehsildar.

Others who participated in the protests include Shiv Sena deputy district chief Ravipal Gandhe, tehsil unit chief Nitin Makode, Gajanan Dehelkar, tehsil organiser Nikhil Patil Jait, Dilip Mahure, Khushal Misal, Suresh Waghmare, Bandu Deshmukh, Deepak Wankhede, Gopal Chavan, Mithun Mondhe, Vijay Ade, Ansar Khan Pathan, Prakash Yeswante, Rahul Sonone, Nitin Deshmukh, Tejas Kale, Atul Kale, Shubham Kale, Manoj Shendurkar, Ashish Landole, Prashant Gawande, Ashfaque Sheikh, Nitin Karale, Jai Mahure and a large number of party workers.