Rohit Pawar Announces Non-Political Farmers Protest On June 29, Vows Street Agitation

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar on Saturday announced a “non-political” protest scheduled for June 29 in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, intensifying his criticism of the Maharashtra government over its farm loan waiver policy and broader agricultural issues affecting farmers across the state.

The announcement came during a press conference held in Jalna after a meeting with party leaders and workers, where Pawar outlined a series of grievances related to the implementation of the state’s loan waiver scheme. He alleged that the conditions attached to the government’s policy would exclude a large majority of eligible farmers from receiving relief, thereby undermining the intent of the initiative.

According to Pawar, nearly 70 per cent of farmers could be left out of the loan waiver benefits due to restrictive eligibility criteria. He accused the government of “playing with words” and claimed that the framework of the scheme was designed in a way that would significantly limit its reach. He further argued that such policies were contributing to continued financial distress in the agricultural sector.

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The MLA also warned that the protest would not be limited to a symbolic demonstration if the government failed to respond to farmers’ demands. He said the agitation would begin at 10:30 am on June 29 and could escalate into more intense forms of protest, including “rasta roko” (road blockades), public gatherings, and even “jail bharo” (mass arrest) movements if necessary.

Describing the planned demonstration as “non-political,” Pawar said the focus would remain solely on farmers’ issues and their economic concerns. However, the event is expected to see participation from several opposition leaders, indicating a broader political alignment on the issue. Among those expected to attend are NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, state president Shashikant Shinde, former minister Rajesh Tope, Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal, and farmer leader Ajit Navale.

Pawar’s remarks reflect growing opposition pressure on the state government over agricultural distress and the implementation of financial relief measures. Farmers’ loan waivers have historically been a politically sensitive issue in Maharashtra, often sparking debate over eligibility criteria, fiscal impact, and effectiveness in addressing long-term rural debt problems. With the protest date set, political attention is now turning to how the state administration will respond to the demands and whether the agitation will gain wider traction among farming communities facing ongoing economic challenges.

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