Cong MP, Farmers Stage ‘Jal Samadhi’

Nagpur: Bhandara-Gondia MP Prashant Padole along with farmers and Congress workers staged a ‘jal samadhi' protest in the Wainganga river at Kardha village in Bhandara district of Maharashtra on Friday. The protesters stood in water for several hours over previous pending agricultural and rehabilitation demands.The agitation also highlighted growing distress among farmers over delayed paddy procurement, unpaid crop insurance claims, and suspended agricultural electricity connections in eastern Maharashtra.Padole joined the protesters by standing neck-deep in the river for hours during the day before returning to the protest site again at night. The MP accused the BJP-led Mahayuti govt of ignoring legitimate concerns raised by the farmers and project-affected families."Farmers and citizens have been standing in water for hours and yet the govt has taken no concrete decision. The demands of the people are being continuously ignored," Padole said.The protesters demanded an immediate increase in the paddy procurement limit, speedy completion of the pending paddy procurement process, and direct transfer of crop insurance compensation into farmers' bank accounts. They also sought immediate payment of paddy bonuses and pending dues.Other demands included the restoration of disconnected agricultural power supply, ending long-hour load-shedding in rural areas, opening of procurement centres for maize growers and approval of forest rights pattas for eligible beneficiaries.The agitation also focused on rehabilitation concerns linked to irrigation and infra projects in the region. Protesters demanded 100% rehabilitation of project-affected persons before implementation of new projects and sought return of acquired farmland where possible.No untoward incident was reported during the agitation, though protesters warned of intensifying the movement if the govt failed to respond to their demands.