Shirur MP Amol Kolhe, a prominent leader in the Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has inaugurated the ‘Shetkari Akrosh Morcha’ from Pune’s historic Shivneri Fort. The four-day protest, aimed at highlighting concerns over the central government’s agricultural policies, commenced with Kolhe seeking inspiration from the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
In a social media post, Kolhe expressed his reverence for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, stating, “We derive the strength to champion farmers’ rights from the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Our homage at Shivneri Fort’s first step fuels our determination for this protest.”
Underlining the collective nature of the cause, Kolhe emphasized, “This fight isn’t just mine or yours; it’s ‘our’ fight! It echoes the grievances of countless farmers battling systemic oppression. A significant turnout of farmers have joined this march.”
Encouraging proactive participation, he urged, “Don’t just lament, fight! Demand your rights! Fair compensation for hard work is the farmer’s due. If denied through requests, we’ll secure it through a struggle!”
The ‘Shetkari Akrosh Morcha’ is a four-day protest organized by the NCP, addressing concerns about the central government’s policies impacting farmers. Baramati MP Supriya Sule, in a video message, called for unity against what she referred to as a dictatorial central government, accusing it of injustice towards farmers. She urged people to join the protest in large numbers from December 27th to 30th, starting at Shivneri Fort.
The Sharad Pawar-led faction of the NCP has outlined six major demands related to farmers’ issues, with the ban on onion exports expected to be a central point of contention. Pawar himself is scheduled to address the morcha on December 30.
