Delhi: Shiv Sena workers stage protest demanding relief for farmers

The Shiv Sena leaders staged a protest on Monday near the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Delhi on the Parliament premises. According to reports, the party workers are demanding some relief measures for the farmers in Maharashtra. Further, protestors were seen standing with placards in the parliament premises that read, "Declare Maharashtra natural disaster-prone region." 

Protesters' demands

The protesting Shiv Sena workers are demanding the declaration of unseasonal rains in Maharashtra as a natural calamity. According to the protesters, the heavy and unseasonal rains in the state have destroyed all the farmers' crops. They are claiming that the government has done nothing to provide any relief to them. They further demanded that every farmer should be given Rs 25,000 to tackle the problems. The protesters added that "it is the responsibility of the government to support the farmers and provide relief measure to them. The farmers should feel that the government is with them."

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'Sena will always fight for farmers' rights'

The protesting Shiv Sena workers stated that "Shiv Sena is always with the farmers and will always fight for their rights." They further mentioned that in the last five years, Uddhav Thackeray has done a lot for the farmers in Maharashtra. Amid the Shiv Sena-BJP tussle over Maharashtra government formation, the Governor announced a President's Rule in the state on November 12. According to the protesters, due to the President's Rule, the farmers are being affected as nothing is being done in their favour.

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Governor announces relief

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on November 16 took stock of the damage caused to crops by the unseasonal rains during October-November. Singh announced a relief of Rs 8,000 per hectare up to 2 hectares for agricultural Kharif crops and Rs 18,000 per hectare up to 2 hectares for horticulture or perennial crops. Along with it, the Governor also announced exemption of land revenue in the affected areas and exemption of examination fee of schools and colleges forwards of farmers who have suffered crop damage.

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Shiv Sena's editorial on farmer issues 

The opinion piece of the newspaper, Saamna highlighted that the compensation announced for the farmers is insufficient. The article says that more than 10 million farmers have suffered a setback because of the rains and assistance of four thousand rupees per hectare is not enough. The article also underlines that Rs 4,000 per hectare comes up to a “mere” Rs 60 per case.  

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