Mumbai, Aug 13 (TOI): To protest against the state government's "inaction in curbing the agrarian crisis in the state", a steering committee of farmers will launch a state-wide agitation from Monday.

The committee, which had been set up in June to negotiate with the government on the loan waiver issue, has said that one of the main demands is a blanket loan waiver for all debt-stricken farmers across the state — a demand that the government has not yet accepted. The loan waiver scheme that has been announced by the state government has an upper limit of Rs 1.5 lakh.

"The steering committee will launch the state-wide agitation starting Monday," convenor of the committee, Ajit Nawale, said at a press conference held in the city on Saturday. "On Monday, farmers will get on the streets and block state and national highways and will bring the state to a grinding halt."

He also said that on August 15 farmers would gheraoflag hoisting areas in their villages and would not allow any minister to do the flag hoisting ceremony. Claiming that this stir will be more aggressive than the previous attempts, Nawale said that student union wings of many groups are also supporting the agitation this time.

"They [politicians] have no moral right to conduct the flag hoisting ceremony as their hands are smeared with farmers' blood," said Raghunathdada Patil of the Shetkari Sanghatana. "The spate of suicides continues in the state despite the loan waiver announcement. This means that farmers are not convinced about the government's willingness to help them."