Maharashtra Congress to hold protest to highlight ‘farmers’ plight’ on March 3

Maharashtra Congress President announces State-wide protests on farmers' issues, urban development, and governance failures, demanding immediate action.

The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Harshvardhan Sapkal said on Tuesday (February 25, 2025) that a State-wide protest to raise farmers’ issues will be held on March 3, the first day of the Maharashtra Assembly’s budget session. On March 4, the opposition will also stage a protest in municipal areas to raise development issues, Mr. Sapkal was speaking at a press conference in Mumbai.

The plight of farmers in Maharashtra under the BJP-led government has become increasingly dire, with no guarantee of fair prices for agricultural produce, said Mr. Sapkal.

“Despite promises of farm loan waivers during elections, the BJP-Shiv Sena government are yet to fulfill their commitment, which has led the Congress to announce a State-wide agitation on March 3, the first day of the Maharashtra Assembly’s budget session. Urban development projects and essential public services are also stalled in the State; to raise these concerns, the Congress party will stage protests in municipal areas on March 4 to highlight the administration’s failures,” he said.

On Tuesday (February 25, 2025), the party held a meeting of State Congress leaders at Tilak Bhavan, Mumbai, where discussions centered on pressing public grievances and the party’s upcoming protests. The party will also hold Sadbhavana Padyatra in Beed district on March 8 and 9 to address the division and hatred that has spread in society and to restore social harmony and brotherhood and revive the party’s presence in Maharashtra.

The march will begin from Massajog village, which is in the news for the gruesome murder of village head Santosh Deshmukh. The meeting on Tuesday also discussed strengthening the Congress party as an organisation across the State. 

Mr. Sapkal lashed out at the BJP government, calling the party an anti-farmer and pro-corporate organisation. “Farmers are being forced to sell soybean at ₹4,000 per quintal, significantly below the minimum support price (MSP), and crops such as onion, gram, and cotton have also been affected by low prices.

The Central Government’s decision to import toor dal from Australia will harm domestic farmers by reducing market prices. Given the deteriorating conditions for farmers, the Congress party will hold protests at district headquarters across Maharashtra to pressure the government into taking immediate action on pressing issues,” he said.