Vidarbha farmers to observe 'Black Day'

Considered the epicentre of the ‘killing fields’ of Vidarbha, Yavatmal will witness a one-day fast and protest rallies by debt-trapped tribals, farm widows, farmers and labourers, on Maharashtra Day, on Thursday. 

To be observed as a ‘Black Day’, hundreds of locals will picket in front of the sub-divisional headquarters of Yavatmal, 770 km from Mumbai.

Talking to Deccan Herald from Yavatmal over phone, Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti leader, Kishore Tiwari, said: “The key reason behind holding the protest is to give voice to the anger felt by farmers against government apathy towards rampant starvation and misery in the region. Vidarbha has seen cotton farmers ending their lives to escape the mounting pressure of debt, which according to farmland activists, is primarily due to the imposition of erroneous policies here.”