Maharashtra: Troubled farmer climbs Mantralaya building, threatens to kill self
A high voltage stunt by a young farmer from Osmanabad brought Maharashtra's Mantralaya to a standstill on Friday.
Dyaneshwar Salve climbed on the parapet of the top floor around 4 pm.
When he pressed his demand of relief to farmers, around 2,000 spectators held their breath. He was consistently threatening to jump down if his demands pertaining to good prices for agriculture produce are not met.
He was moving close to the wall inch by inch, looking at the spectators and the officials. The game of threats, negotiations and conviction went on for almost two hours when Salve finally gave up on his anger and moved inside a room.
An owner of three acre farm land, Salve climbed on the parapet from a window of one of the rooms on the seventh floor, which is also the top floor of the building.
Initially, he sought to talk to Agriculture Minister Pandurang Phundkar regarding his demands of implementation of recommendations by Swaminathan Commission and better support prices for soybean and cotton.
A team of negotiators led by Additional Commissioner of Police RD Shinde managed to establish contact with the minister. Phundkar assured him to solve the issues but Salve demanded a written assurance and declined to come inside the building.
Almost an hour later, Education Minister Vinod Tawde and ministers for Home Ranjit Patil and Deepak Kesarkar joined the team of negotiators.
Tawde assured Salve that his demands will be met soon. The negotiators first calmed down Salve by offering him water to drink. Then they reminded him that his parents were waiting at home for him so he should not take any wrong decision. Salve went inside the room ending his stunt after an hour of convincing.
"He was worried about survival of his family," Tawde told reporters.
"He earned Rs 19,000 from the farm produce in his three acre farm. He was tensed as he earned a little profit. He was worried about how to feed his parents for the whole year so he took the extreme step," he said.
Tawde assured Salve that the government was serious on resolving the farmers' issues.
"Our priority was his safety. I am satisfied that we could manage to refrain him from taking any wrong decision," he said. He also said that he has recommended the police not to book Salve for attempting suicide as he took the step under pressure.
The police have detained Salve. They had not arrested him till 8.30 pm.