Shiv Sena (UBT) stages protest on Samruddhi Expressway demanding better onion prices

Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve. Pic/X

Workers of the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday staged a "chakka jam" (road blockade) agitation on the Samruddhi Expressway in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to protest the low onion procurement rates.

The agitation, which took place around 10 am at the Jambargaon interchange in Vaijapur tehsil, saw protesters burning tyres on the expressway, blocking the traffic, an official said.

Speaking to reporters, Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve, who led the protest, said, "The authorities did not grant permission for our agitation. But we are here to support onion farmers. We want the government to procure the crop at a good rate, and that is our only demand from the agitation."

He claimed that onions were being procured at 25 to 50 paisa per kg, which is unfair to farmers.

"Onion cultivators are committing suicide. While the Central government has announced a procurement rate of Rs 12.35 per kg, no one is purchasing the produce at this rate," Danve alleged.

The police later detained Danve and the agitators and took them to Vaijapur police station, clearing the blockade on the expressway.

Amid the backdrop of falling onion prices, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan last week announced that the Centre will procure the bulb at the rate of Rs 12.35 per kg from farmers.

The price of the kitchen essential has fallen as exports have been affected due to the West Asia crisis.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever