Raut meets Nashik collector, warns of agitation over attack on farmers

Nashik: Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut on Thursday waited for the Nashik collector Ayush Prasad for two hours outside his office to discuss the alleged attack on farmers by administrative officers and police in connection with land acquisition for the proposed 66km Nashik Ring Road.After a meeting with the collector, Raut told reporters, "We have no demand except that the administration should listen to the farmers and resolve the issue. If that does not happen, the party workers will agitate with full might."The aggrieved farmers met Raut after he arrived in the city. He then went to meet the collector. Raut had to wait because the collector had a prior engagement.Assistant collector GVS Pavan Datta led officials for land measurement in Mungsara and Matori villages on May 2. He allegedly charged farmers opposing the land acquisition. Farmers claimed that police pulled men and women out of houses. Datta said the farmers and their family members had warned of self-immolation if land measurement was carried out and so the police went inside the houses to ensure nothing of that sort happened.Raut saud, "Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is deeply concerned about the treatment of the farmers. I will raise the issue in Parliament and ask the Prime Minister who has given the right to officers to attack farmers?"The Rajya Sabha member said the family whose land was acquired in the past — for dams, canals and roads — is now on the verge of losing livelihood. It is disgusting to note that the police and officials assaulted the family protesting in the early hours of the day."I received a call from revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, assuring me of serious action. Even collector Prasad has assured me of taking action against the officer. The party trusts both but it will not fall back out if it has to stand with the farmers," said Raut.MP Rajabhau Waje, corporators from Nashik city and other office-bearers accompanied Raut in the meeting.