While many farmers in Maharashtra have joined the protest against the three contentious farm bills passed by Parliament last month, some took to the streets for a different reason — to celebrate the very same farm laws.
They gathered in groups of 15-20, held rallies as a show of support, burst crackers in celebration and even raised gudhis, usually a Gudhi Padwa tradition to mark the beginning of the new year in Maharashtra.
These are farmers associated with the Shetkari Sanghatana, a farmers’ group founded by economist and agriculturist Sharad Joshi, also a former MP, in 1978.
For this group, the new farm laws are a step towards exactly what it has always advocated — freedom of access to markets.
Shetkari Sanghtana is a farmers union based in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India. It was founded by Member of Parliament, Raju Shetti. They fight for the fair price of sugarcane farmer and other issues.