MUMBAI: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday made it clear that his party's opposition to Mumbai-Nagpur Samrudhi corridor will continue so long as farmers in the state are unhappy about the project.
Farmers whose agricultural lands are endangered by the project had raised objections to it.
While clarifying that the party is not against the project, Uddhav said the government should take into account the demands of the farmers.
Thackeray along with party MLA and PWD minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) the agency responsible for the development project, addressed a media conference at Shiv Sena headquarters in Mumbai.
"There is no difference between the stand taken by the party and that of the minister," Thackeray said referring to reports that the project has led to fissures between the party and its ministers.
He praised minister Shinde for maintaining dialogue with farmers while taking the project ahead.
Uddhav said farmers should get to decide what they want.
If they want increased compensation, we should get it for them. If they are opposed to giving up fertile lands, we should make an alternative arragement, he added.
Uddhav said when farmers find it impossible to give up land, the government should ask them to suggest a remedy rather than put pressure on them
Meanwhile, minister Shinde noted that farmers would be compensated immediately upon entering into an agreement with the government, for the lands they give up. He added that lands have so far been taken only from consenting farmers.