26 May,2026 07:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde (Screengrab from X)
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday expressed confidence that a positive solution on issues faced by onion growers would emerge from a meeting convened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
As reported by PTI, onion cultivators have demanded a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 3,000 for the bulb, Rs 1,500 per quintal subsidy for produce that has been sold, rollback of the export ban, and a detailed and impartial inquiry into the corruption in the onion procurement by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED).
Shinde, while speaking to the media on Tuesday, said, "The Centre and the Maharashtra governments are working in coordination to provide relief to growers. Onion procurement centres had already been started, and onions were currently being procured at Rs 15.80 per kg," as per PTI.
The Deputy Chief Minister further said that appropriate decisions will be taken in the meeting with Shah on Wednesday, and farmers will get relief.
Shinde said the demonstrations staged by the Opposition on the onion issue are mainly intended to attract publicity and media attention.
He alleged that the erstwhile Congress-led UPA government had failed to provide any relief when prices skyrocketed.
Shinde also added, "The Centre and Maharashtra governments stand firmly with farmers. All possible efforts are being made to prevent losses to onion growers," as per PTI.
On the other hand, Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday also stated the Centre has fixed the price of onion at Rs 15 per kilogram amid protests by the farmers in the state.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, the Chief Minister dismissed the opposition's attack and protests over the price of onions as "photo opportunities," and asserted that the Mahayuti government was sensitive towards farmers.
Fadnavis added, "The Centre has increased the price of onions by Rs 3.5 and has been fixed at Rs 15 per kg. We have also requested a meeting with the central government. The state government is sensitive towards the farmers."
"Some people are playing politics and creating photo opportunities. The price of onions during their tenure was no secret. We will try to find out what long-term solutions can be taken from that meeting. This is a 100 per cent political movement. Those who do not shed tears even after cutting onions are now trying to shed tears," he added.
(With inputs from PTI)
