02 June,2026 02:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maha Vikas Aghadi holds massive protest march, blocks Pune-Nashik highway over onion prices
Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal on Tuesday said the Congress and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) would continue their agitation until onion growers receive a fair price and justice for their produce.
Addressing a protest organised by the MVA on the Pune-Nashik Highway in Ambegaon taluka of Pune district, Sapkal said onion farmers were being forced to sell their produce at throwaway prices despite investing significant effort and resources in cultivation. He claimed that onion prices had fallen to such an extent that growers were not even receiving Rs 2 per kilogram in the market.
"The onion-producing farmer has been devastated by the Centre's flawed policies. The Congress and the Maha Vikas Aghadi will continue fighting until farmers receive a price of Rs 3,000 per quintal and are given justice," Sapkal said.
The protest was organised to press several demands, including a guaranteed price of Rs 3,000 per quintal for onions, compensation for farmers who sold their produce at lower rates, and procurement of the entire onion stock through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED).
Despite police action and detentions, thousands of farmers participated in the highway blockade.
Among those present were Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) state president Shashikant Shinde, MLA Rohit Pawar, MP Nilesh Lanke, MLA Bapusaheb Pathare, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MLA Babaji Kale, former MLA Ashok Pawar, Pune district president of the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) Devdatta Nikam, along with office-bearers, workers and farmers associated with various MVA constituents.
Sapkal said rising inflation, increasing agricultural input costs and inadequate prices for farm produce had pushed farmers in Maharashtra into a serious financial crisis. He noted that onion growers were among the worst affected due to the sharp decline in market prices.
According to Sapkal, farmers are unable to recover even their production costs at current market rates. He also criticised the government for announcing onion procurement without initiating the process on the ground.
"We demand that onion procurement be carried out through Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs). Instead of benefiting traders, the procurement process should prioritise farmers' interests and ensure they receive a fair guaranteed price," he said.
Sapkal said there was widespread dissatisfaction in rural areas due to the lack of adequate government support during the ongoing agricultural crisis. He reiterated that the Congress and the Maha Vikas Aghadi would continue to support farmers and intensify their agitation until onion growers receive fair prices and meaningful relief.
"The Congress and the entire Maha Vikas Aghadi stand firmly with farmers. Our struggle will continue until onion growers receive a fair guaranteed price and the support they deserve," he said.
