Scores of angry farmers attempted to waylay Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s car and convoy, and pelted them with onions and tomatoes to draw his attention to their woes, here on Saturday morning.
The incident took place when Ajit Pawar was proceeding from Ojhar Airport to Dindori, and his fleet of vehicles was blocked by the irate farmers who raised slogans against the state government, and targeted the cars with onions and tomatoes.
The farmers waved black flags to the VIP convoy, demanded roll-back of the export duty on onion and a good support price for tomatoes to ensure proper livelihood for the cultivators.
“We condemn the government’s policies... Farmers are dying... We want withdrawal of the export duty on onions and a suitable minimum support price for tomatoes,” one of the protesters told mediapersons there.
A strong posse of police from nearby Kalwan managed to reach the spot and whisked off many of the protestors without any untoward incidents.
After the tomato prices touched over Rs 200 between May-August, now the retail rates are in the range of Rs 12-18/kg depending on the markets, hitting the cultivators badly.
Similarly, the onion farmers in Nashik went on a 13-day strike by stopping wholesale trade to demand yanking off the export duty on the teary staple vegetable.
The strike was called off on October 3 after assurances by the government but the wholesale traders have given a month’s ultimatum to the authorities to act, failing which they would strike afresh.
The "onion-tomato" welcome left Pawar and his team embarrassed as they had come for overseeing the pre-election work for the Lok Sabha polls in which the breakaway Nationalist Congress Party is expected to contest from the Nashik seat.
Tripura making significant strides towards rapid development: CM Dr Saha
Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha today said that the present state government is committed to delivering good governance to all sections of society, with the state making significant strides towards rapid development.
Wanted NSCN (K-YA) cadre held in Assam by security forces
The army and Assam Rifles in coordination with the Assam Police, apprehended a wanted top cadre of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Khaplang’s Yung Aung faction (NSCN-K-YA) from the state's Charaideo district, officials said on Monday.
PM Modi condemns Germany market attack, advocates brotherhood at CBCI Christmas event
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condemned attempts to incite violence in society, highlighting that the teachings of Jesus Christ promote love, harmony, and brotherhood.
National Awardee film-maker and 'parallel cinema' doyen Shyam Benegal dies at 90
Shyam Sunder S. Benegal, a multiple National Award winner and among the pioneers of ‘parallel cinema’ – with silver screen classics like “Junoon”, “Ankur”, “Manthan”, “Zubeida” and “The Making of the Mahatma” – passed away after a long battle with a kidney disease, his family said here on Monday.
End of no-detention policy: Students failing final exams in Classes 5, 8 will be retained in same grade
The central government has scrapped the "no-detention policy" in schools. In this regard, the Ministry of Education has issued an official Gazette notification.
Former SC judge V. Ramasubramanian appointed as NHRC Chairperson
After being without a regular designated head for over six months, the Centre on Monday cleared the appointment of retired Supreme Court judge Justice V. Ramasubramanian as the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Minister Sushanta Chowdhury chairs 15th meeting of state road safety council
The state road and transport minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Monday chaired the 15th meeting of the State Road Safety Council here at Agartala and said that the government is contemplating to ensure zero road accidents through generating more awareness.
Lok Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb slams Congress's dynastic politics
Former Tripura Chief Minister and current Lok Sabha MP, Biplab Kumar Deb, on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party's dynastic politics, accusing it of surrendering power to the communists in the state due to family-based succession.