Mumbai, August 12: Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray has slammed the police killing of farmers in Maval, on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, as ‘murder.’
At the same time Opposition leader Eknath Khadse, BJP, demanded the dismissal of the Maharashtra government.
The attack by police, who fired at an angry mob, killed three — Kantabai Thakar, 40, Moreshwar Sathe, 40, and Shyam Tupe, 29. They were taking part in strike action called by the BJP-Shiv Sena-Republican Party of India and Bharat Kisan Sangh to protest against the 35km water pipeline from Pawna dam in Maval to Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune.
The farmers opposed the project as they feared forced land acquisition and were also worried that water from the dam would be diverted from their fields.
Demands
While the BJP plans to hold a statewide protest against the Congress-NCP government’s anti-farmer policies next week, Khadse said the party would approach the State Human Rights Commission and also meet the state governor to demand the government be sacked.
Uddhav told reporters after meeting with families of victims in Maval yesterday: “Those who are behind this monstrous deed have no right to stick to their chairs,” and demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Home Minister R R Patil. Pawar is also the guardian minister of Pune district.
With several TV channels showing the police aiming their guns at fleeing farmers, Uddhav said it was obvious, “police chased and fired on protestors.”
–Agencies