MUMBAI: Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Friday urged farmers to intensify their strike until their demands are met and ensure that the government is not able to divide and break the agitation.
"Until farmers get a complete loan waiver and until the government agrees to all their demands, farmers should ensure their unity and continue with their agitation. The government is trying to divide them by leaking reports of mulling to waive off small farmers' loans," Pawar said here after the steering committee of farmer's agitation decided to continue their protest during their meeting at Puntambe in Ahmednagar district.
Notwithstanding the government's attempts at creating a rift between them, farmers should stay united and their joint efforts will force the government to go on its knees, Pawar said.
"Instead of wasting vegetables and milk on the roads, farmers should rather distribute all of it to poor people in villages and thereby strengthen their agitation," Sharad Pawar said.
Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare urged the state government to agree to the farmers demands and not wait for them to intensify their protests. The opposition has, time and again, tried to raise farmers issues, but to no avail, he said.
Meanwhile, the Congress on Friday declared complete support to the agitation and warned chief minister Devendra Fadnavis against levelling baseless allegations. Fadnavis had on Thursday held the opposition responsible for violence during the agitation.
Meanwhile, leaders of the farmer's agitation reached Mumbai in the evening and are expected to hold another round of talks with Devendra Fadnavis late at night. Anti-corruption crusador Anna Hazare is mediating the talks, sources have said.