Shaktipeeth land mapping protests escalate; BJP neta detained

Kolhapur: The Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth expressway project, touted as a flagship initiative of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, is facing growing resistance, including from within BJP.

BJP functionary K K Patil was detained for calling a protest against the land mapping for the project in Malshiras tehsil of Solapur district. In spite of his detention, farmers Bondle, Ughadewadi, Welapur and Nimgaon opposed escalated protests on Thursday.

Patil, detained at 5.30am on Thursday, took to social media. “No matter how hard the administration tries to suppress our voice, the farmers’ struggle will not stop. If the Shaktipeeth highway threatens fertile agriculture, the livelihood of farmers and the existence of rural areas, we will continue to strongly oppose it. The land is ours, the decision is ours! Farmers remain united, firmly oppose the Shaktipeeth highway!” he wrote.

The police said the detention was linked to alleged vandalism. Assistant inspector R Shinde, of the Velapur police station, said, “K K Patil was detained on Thursday after giving prior notice for his alleged involvement in damaging the trimble machine brought for land mapping of the Shaktipeeth project last week. A case has been registered against him with the Velapur police station under various sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.”

Opposition has intensified over the past eight days in Madha, Pandharpur and Malshiras talukas of Solapur, where farmers claim govt is pushing ahead with land mapping despite their resistance. The revenue and land records officials will survey the land on Friday. The protesting farmers have said if the Shaktipeeth Expressway project is not cancelled, they will not allow CM Devendra Fadnavis to perform the mahapuja at Pandharpur Vitthal Mandir on Ashadhi Ekadashi.

Criticising the chief minister, farmers’ leader Raju Shetti said, “While Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had ordered that not even the stalk of farmers’ vegetables should be touched, now we have someone who snatches land by robbing farmers to clear the way for a Rs 50,000 crore scam in the form of Shaktipeeth expressway,” he said.

Madha MP Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil said, “Even when there is opposition, govt is forcibly carrying out land mapping. Cases are getting registered against the farmers; this is a very wrong strategy adopted by govt,” he said. Talking about the agrarian impact, he added, “I have visited all the villages from Madha tehsil that will be affected due to the Shaktipeeth project. There is 99% fertile land, and there is a strong opposition to the project as it will devastate the farmers. No clarity regarding compensation has been given yet, but govt has already commenced land survey.”