Sanghatana to agitate against hikes

pune: shetkari sanghatana, the farmer's organisation set up by sharad joshi, has announced that it will gherao offices of the maharashtra state electricity board throughout the state on october 2, as part of its protest against the proposed hike in water and electricity charges, and recovery of loans. the decision was taken at a twoday meeting of the executive council of the sanghatana held last week.activists said preparations for the agitation were complete in 110 talukas. the executive council said the farmers would neither pay for water and electricity nor repay the loans taken by them for agricultural purposes. commenting on the report of the task force on agriculture under sanghatana leader sharad joshi, the executive council said mr joshi has made many recommendations which will enable indian farmers to survive in the era of globalisation and liberalisation. the organisation has warned that if the government did not take any concrete steps regarding the recommendations by november 8, the shetkari sanghatana will launch a nation wide agitation from november 10.