Daijiworld Media Network - Kannad
Kannad, Oct 20: In an unusual turn of events, a hunger strike launched by a farmer demanding relief for rain-hit cultivators in Kannad taluk ended not at the protest site, but at the residence of Guardian Minister Sanjay Shirsat in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Farmer Sandeep Vijaykumar Sethi had been on a hunger strike since October 10 in front of the Kannad Tehsil Office, seeking loan waivers, immediate compensation to families of those who died in floods, financial assistance on par with the Punjab government, suspension of loan recovery for a year, and new crop loans. Despite repeated appeals from administrative officials, Sethi had refused to withdraw his protest unless the Guardian Minister personally visited the site.
However, with Diwali holidays underway and most officials on leave, Tehsildar Vidyacharan Kadavkar and Shiv Sena deputy coordinator Shivaji Thete contacted the minister’s office. Shirsat’s personal assistant reportedly conveyed that the minister was busy and could not visit Kannad. Instead, they suggested bringing the protester to Sambhajinagar so the issue could be resolved at the minister’s residence.
Accordingly, Sethi was taken to Shirsat’s home in an ambulance, where he drank water and formally ended his fast in the minister’s presence.
The incident has sparked strong criticism from opposition leaders, with NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar slamming the minister’s conduct. “This government is full of odd examples. The minister who has time for multi-crore scams in CIDCO and hotel deals had no time to visit a fasting farmer. Calling the protester home to end his strike shows sheer arrogance of power and insensitivity,” Pawar remarked.
The episode has stirred widespread discussion in the district, with citizens and political observers questioning the administration’s handling of farmers’ grievances. Instead of addressing the key issues raised by the protester, the focus has shifted to the minister’s controversial decision to make the fasting farmer travel to his residence.