Default of cotton farmers' dues: Govt to hold meeting on Mar 9

In a quandary over alleged non-payment of dues of cotton growers from Vidarbha by a buyer believed to be close to RSS, the Maharashtra government has convened a meeting in Mumbai on March 9 to resolve the issue.
Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule today visited the venue at RBI Square here where farmers from Seloo in Wardha district are on a sit-in agitation and assured them of resolving the issue at the meeting, stated an official release.
State Cooperative Minister Chandrakant Patil, Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, Bawankule and officials concerned will attend the meeting.
The government is in a dilemma over the issue which has landed at the RSS headquarters here as farmers had threatened of self-immolation over the issue and marched towards the building on February 28, but were detained by police.

As many as 400 cotton growers had alleged non-payment of dues to the tune of Rs 8 crore by Sunil Talatule, who owns Shrikrishna Ginning and Pressing Factory and is said to be close to Sangh and BJP leaders.
The farmers had accused RSS of shielding Talatule, who allegedly failed to make payment to them on purchase of 20,000 quintal of cotton.
Talatule is the son of a RSS founding member Babasaheb Talatule.
"We were assured on behalf of Chief Minister that cheques worth Rs 8 crores will be paid to nearly 400 cotton farmers," one of the affected farmers, Ram Narain Pathak had said, alleging that government has failed to deliver its promise.