Kolhapur, Nov 12 (UNI) Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) national president and former MP Raju Shetty announced on Sunday that he will not contest forthcoming Lok Sabha elections if independent MLA Prakash Awade (supported by BJP) help farmers get Rs 3,500 per tonne as first installment for this year’s crushing season and Rs 400 as second installment for last year’s crushed sugarcane using his close friendship with Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Addressing cane farmers at spot of ‘Thiyya andolan’ (sit-in agitation) in Jaysingpur town of the district, where he has been agitating since November seven, he gave a befitting reply to Awade’s criticism that he (Shetty) was doing politics through ongoing agitation with an eye on forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
He alleged that Awade was trying to create fear in the minds of farmers by talking about drought-like situation in the district.
The SSS chief admitted that there was a drought-like situation in the district but asserted that there was no reason to panic, as there is sufficient live water stock in dam of the district which will last till next May.
He said that prices of fertilisers have gone up adding to discomfort of farmers.
Shetty said that since Awade has close friendship with both Shah and Shinde, he should use the same to help farmers get price of Rs 3,500 per tonne as first installment for sugarcane this year and Rs 400 per tonne as second installment for last year’s crushed sugarcane.
If he did this, then he (Shetty) would not contest forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, he added.
