PONDA: Goa Dairy farmers namely Anup Desai and Sanjeev Cuncolienkar on Thursday late evening called off their fast unto death agitation following assurance by Goa Dairy chairman Rajesh Faldesai that the Board meeting would come out with its decision on their demands by August 1.
Both the farmers threatened to relaunch their agitation if their demands are not fulfilled.
Earlier in the day, the health condition of Goa Dairy farmer Anup Priolkar, who is on fast unto death agitation, deteriorated on Thursday, as he complained about stomach pain.
Receiving the news about his deteriorating health condition, several farmers met him to inquire about his condition.
During his visit to the Goa Dairy, MGP president Deepak Dhavalikar said in the interest of farmers Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should take interest in the Goa Dairy affairs by delivering justice to them.
Goa Dairy should not rest in hands of the MD, who is misusing it for his selfish motives but it should be handed over to farmers who are the real owners, he demanded.
He said chief minister should look into the “mismanagement” of dairy affairs and listen to farmers’ grievances and get them addressed. The chief minister cannot shy away from his responsibility by saying he has no knowledge about the issue. He called upon the chief minister to take up Goa Dairy farmers’ issue with the cooperation department and come out with a solution.
“When I was the Cooperation Minister I always took interest in the Goa Dairy and its farmers,” he said.
Dr Ketan Bhatikar and many others tried to persuade Anup to go in for treatment but Anup refused to do so and remained firm on his stand to continue with the agitation. He said the farmers are suffering losses and vowed to continue to agitate till their demands are fulfilled.
