Resolve farmers' issues through talks, not agitations: Fadnavis to ex-minister Kadu

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday appealed to Prahar Janshakti Party (PJP) leader Bachchu Kadu to discuss farmers' issues with the government, instead of holding agitations that inconvenience the public and may be exploited by "vested interests". Fadnavis was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Pune, a day after former state minister Kadu led a tractor rally in Nagpur, seeking a complete loan waiver for farmers and listing a host of other demands. The tractor march, comprising thousands of farmers and PJP workers led by Kadu, began on Monday from Chandurbazar in Amravati district and halted at Wardha before arriving in Nagpur on Tuesday evening. Kadu on Wednesday asserted that the agitation will not stop until the government decides on their demands, and said instead of calling him to Mumbai, the CM should meet him in Nagpur for discussions. Heavy traffic congestion was witnessed on the Nagpur-Wardha road, where the agitation was underway near the Jamtha flyover. Fadnavis said the state government has adopted a positive approach towards farmers' issues.

"Before the agitation, we had convened a meeting and assured that possible solutions could be worked out through dialogue. Bachchu Kadu had initially agreed, but later informed that he would not be able to attend, leading to the cancellation of the meeting," he said. State minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has also contacted Kadu and expressed the government's willingness to discuss the demands, Fadnavis said. "He (Kadu) has raised several issues that cannot be resolved through agitation. A roadmap can only be chalked out after dialogue. That is why we have again invited him for a meeting," the CM said. Appealing to Kadu to avoid protests, Fadnavis said road blockades were creating hardships for the public, including patients. "My appeal to him is to come and talk to us rather than cause disruptions. In such agitations, elements with vested interests sometimes infiltrate and cause violence, so we must remain vigilant. The government will not allow protests like 'rail roko'," he said. Stressing the government's commitment to farmers' welfare, the CM said the state has already announced a Rs 32,000-crore package for the cultivators. On the loan waiver demand, he said, "The state government has already formed a committee to look into the issue. Our priority at present is to help farmers who have suffered losses due to heavy rains. We have never said we are against farm loan waiver." "The government is ready to discuss every issue concerning farmers," he added. Thousands of people, including farmers and workers of Kadu's party, have stayed put in Nagpur, staging the 'Maha Elgar' morcha and demanding a complete farm loan waiver. Speaking to reporters at the agitation site on Wednesday, Kadu said the government has been requesting him to come to Mumbai for discussions. "I would want the CM to come to Nagpur for discussions," he said. Kadu said that for the last eight months, they have been demanding a complete farm loan waiver, proper MSP (minimum support price) for farmers' produce, and have also put forth various demands of 'divyang' (specially-abled people) and fishermen. "The agitation will not stop until the government decides on our demands," he said. Kadu said he will also meet the Rashtriya Swayansevak Sangh (RSS) office-bearers.