[Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis talking to media after he held talks with a section of protesting farmers. (Video grab)]
Mumbai: The farmers from Maharashtra except those in Nashik Saturday early in the morning ended their indefinite strike after a "satisfactory" talks with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The farmers were on strike since Thursday and kept on tenterhooks the state for almost 48 hours.
Members of the core committee of Kisan Kranti Jan Andolan in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra who held talks with Fadnavis late Friday night in Mumbai said the government had accepted 70% of their demands and that they were satisfied with the government’s response.
Fadnavis later shared the details of the meeting through his Twitter account.
"The strike is withdrawn and there should not be any violent protests against state anymore," Fadnavis said.
He said the government would provide debt-relief to small and marginal farmers by 31 October this year.
Various organisations of farmers and small factions participated in the meeting. But, a few group of farmers including those from Nashik distanced themselves from the decision of calling off of the strike.
In Nashik district, the core committee announced that they would continue the strike and were against any talks with the government till all their demands were fully met. The strike in Nashik, where it was launched on 1 June, was most violent and disruptive.
Reports coming from different parts of Nashik said protesting farmers damaged vehicles to press blockade of the highways.
Major cities of the state including Mumbai and Pune saw shortage of vegetables and milk and a sharp increase in their prices due to the strike.