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Pics by Rons Bantwal for Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

• The Shiv Sena demanded compensation for farmers who have an excess sugar cane crop

Mumbai, May 31: After the BJP it was the Shiv Sena's turn, to march to Mantralaya to demand compensation be provided to sugarcane farmers, for their excess crop. In the absence of Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his Deputy R.R. Patil, the agitated Sena activists unloaded a truck full of sugarcane near Mantralaya.

Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition in the Legislative Assembly Ramdas Kadam has threatened that if the government refuses compensation for the excess crop, the agitation will be intensified.

As per the decision the Shiv Sena staged a dharana protesting the government's apathy towards the sugarcane farmers. The Sena leaders initially, had decided to take up the plight of the sugarcane farmers into the corridors of power. They sought the intervention of Chief Minister Deshmukh. Since he was in New Delhi for the Prime Minister's conference, the Sena leaders tried to meet his deputy. But since Patil too was also not available, they finally decided to dump the sugarcane in front of Mantralaya as a protest.

The main demand of the Sena leaders is for compensation to the farmers for their excess crop. In the absence of Deshmukh and Patil the Sena leaders protested against the government with a day long dharana.

The Sena had organised a morcha on Mantralya under the leadership of Ramdas Kadam. However, as per High Court directives, they were forced to stage their dharna at Azad Maidan. Along with Kadam, Chandrakant Khaire, the Member of Parliament and MLA's from Marathawada region were also present for the agitation.

The Sena has demanded Rs. 50,000 per hectare as compensation. The party has blamed the state government and the centre for the plight of the sugarcane farmers in the state, which is facing an excess crop. The saffron party has clearly warned that if the government fails to take corrective steps, the industry will shut down. But the Sena said, that they will not allow this to happen.

Khaire, Mane arrested

Forty-eight Shiv Sainiks, including MP Chandrakant Khaire and MLA Annasaheb Mane were arrested after they dumped a truckload of sugarcane outside Mantralaya, the State Secretariat, as part of their agitation for compensation for uncrushed sugarcane.