Sugarcane stir: Uddhav threatens agitation

Mumbai: Shiv Sena today warned of an intense agitation if the Maharashtra government fails to announce an appropriate remunerative price for sugarcane growers.

"Government should take the decision before the patience of the farmers ends. Shiv Sena has participated in the agitation. We will have to intensify the agitation and government would be responsible for it," Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray said.

He was talking to reporters after a delegation led by him met Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan at the government guest house `Sahyadri` in south Mumbai. The meeting of the Shiv Sena leaders with Chavan comes in the backdrop of the demonstrations staged by sugarcane growers in western Maharashtra, led by Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghtana leader Raju Shetty, for an appropriate remunerative price.

Uddhav said the delegation met Chavan on behalf of the farmers and has put forth their grievances. "There is frustration among farmers on issues like appropriate price for sugarcane. Raju Shetty and other farmers organisations are demonstrating against it," he said.

Urging the government to hold deliberations with the protesting farmers and their leaders, Uddhav said the issue should be tackled before the situation goes out of control. "Farmers have had enough and it appears that the situation would go out of control. Therefore, talks should be held by the government with the demonstrators, including Raju Shetty, and Sena leaders," he said. To this, Chavan replied that the government is ready to hold deliberations, Uddhav said.