Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Friday demanded that State government should pay Rs 800 bonus to paddy growers as they were getting Rs 1600 to 1700 price per quintal while the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh government was paying Rs 2500 to paddy cultivators.
Chavan was speaking during a meeting in Gondia on the second day of Congress Jan Sangharsh Yatra (rally), about 160 kms near here. Chavan lashed out at the BJP-led government saying the State government has miserably failed to protect the interest of the farming community.
Leader of Opposition in State Assembly, Radha Krishna Vikhe Patil who held agriculture portfolio in Congress government earlier, criticised the agriculture policy of the Fadnavis government.
The yatra after holding a meeting in the Gondia district proceeded to Gadchiroli-Chandrapur where public meetings are being held at Chimur, Brahmapuri, Chandrapur, and Warora.
Former PCC chief Manikrao Thakre, former ministers Nasim Khan, Vijay Wadettiwar, AICC joint secretary Ashish Dua, Zilla Parishad president Seema Madavi, Atul Londhe, Babanrao Taiwade, and Umakant Agnihotri were also present.