Maha govt says SSS chief Raju Shetti unwilling to talk

Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Pandurang Fundkar today slammed Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna president Raju Shetti, who has accused the BJP-led NDA government of ignoring the farmers opposing proposed Samruddhi corridor project, saying he is not ready to hold talks despite the government showing willingness.
Shetti, whose party is an alliance partner in the NDA dispensation, has taken out an "Atmaklesh yatra" (repentance march) of farmers against the Devendra Fadnavis government's ambitious project to construct the 700-km expressway (Samruddhi corridor) between Mumbai and Nagpur.
Shetti had said his yatra was named 'Atmaklesh' as he is repenting siding with the BJP ahead of Assembly polls.

The farmer leader, who represents Hatkanagnle Lok Sabha seat in Kolhapur district in western Maharashtra, today called on state governor C Vidyasagar Rao here.
"Though the state government is ready to hold talks with Shetti, he seems unwilling to come forward," the minister said.
Fundkar told reporters that he and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis have appealed to farmers from Puntamba in Ahmednagar district, who have given a call for the strike on June 1, to come for talks.

Fundkar said the state Cabinet has given its nod to "Chief Minister Agriculture and Food Processing Scheme (CMAFPS)" whereby emphasis will be laid on the "value addition to agricultural produce, marketing of agricultural produce, exports and setting up of infrastructure facilities like cold storage by Farmers Produce Companies".

He said the government has allocated Rs 773 crore of budgetary grants for the purpose.
The CMAFPS will be implemented for the next five years beginning 2017-18, and a review will be taken on its continuation in future.
Farmers have announced their plan to go on strike from June 1 to highlight their "plight".
Meanwhile, Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Bijay Kumar told reporters the state government will not close down procurement of tur (pulses) after the extended deadline of May 31.
The state government has sent a proposal to Centre to extend the procurement deadline to June 15, he said.
"Tur produce of all those farmers who have been given tokens and whose mobile numbers have been registered will be taken by government," the principal secretary said, adding that as of now, the state government has procured six lakh tonnes of tur.

He said availability of space in godowns is not a problem for storing tur and adequate stock of gunny bags is also available.