Farmers from 13 districts, including Kolhapur, Sangli, Solapur, Sindhudurg, Dharashiv, Latur, Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Yavatmal, Wardha and Satara, participated in an online meeting on Wednesday in association with members of Shaktipeeth Highway Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti
Jagdish Shembade, a farmer from Avhe village, said, “The police blocked all highways leading out of the village and served notices to residents the night before. When we threatened to commit suicide, the police and the tehsil administration told us to go ahead, saying it made no difference to them. They kept us under house arrest while the land survey was conducted. They alleged that despite farmers and women threatening self-immolation by dousing themselves with petrol, climbing electricity poles and attempting to drown themselves in the river, officials proceeded with the land survey unilaterally.
Second, a state-level meeting of key representatives will be held in Kolhapur on the afternoon of Oct 11 to determine future strategy. Third, farmers from across the state will travel to Solapur to protest the ongoing land surveys, which are scheduled until Oct 22. Fourth, a broad, all-party, statewide agitation will be launched.