On 8th day of hunger strike, farmer seeks total loan waiver, action against polluting firms

Bhanudas Shinde, a member and spokesperson of the Rayat Kranti Sanghatna, said he has decided to continue his fast till the state government addresses issues raised by the organisation.

4 min readPuneAug 23, 2026 09:15 PM IST

A 49-year-old farmer staged a hunger strike in Kangaon village of Daund taluka in Pune district, demanding among other things, a total loan waiver for farmers in the state and action against pollution-causing cement factories in his village. Sunday marked the eighth day of his hunger strike.

Bhanudas Shinde, a member and spokesperson of the Rayat Kranti Sanghatna, said he has decided to continue his fast till the state government addresses issues raised by the organisation. “We have placed our 10 demands before the state government. We are waiting for its response. Till then, the fast will continue,” he said.

Shinde said the government’s announcement of a loan waiver has not stopped suicides. “Despite the state government’s recent announcement about a loan waiver, two farmers in Maharashtra ended their lives. This is because the government has put conditions for the loan waiver. It should remove conditions and extend a total waiver to all farmers in the state,” Shinde said on Sunday.

He said the government should, besides extending a loan waiver without any conditions, provide an assistance grant of Rs 2 lakh to farmers who have active pending dues.

Shinde said villagers of Kangaon are troubled by the pollution caused by two cement companies. “Due to the presence of two cement companies in Kangaon, there is massive pollution. Overloaded transportation is damaging our roads and causing accidents. Furthermore, both companies have not taken an NoC from Kangaon Gram Panchayat,” he alleged. His organisation has sent a complaint to the Chief Minister in this regard.

In view of the severe economic slowdown, Shinde said the government should halt all mandatory loan recoveries from all sections of farmers for one year. “It should cancel the condition of CIBIL scores in all loan procedures.”

The organisation demanded that the government should immediately restart all stalled piped water supply schemes across the state, including in Daund taluka.

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“If a patient passes away during hospital treatment anywhere in Maharashtra, the hospital bill should be waived or paid by the government. If the patient recovers, the bill should be finalised only after a government audit,” Shinde said.

The organisation said the land acquired for the Ujani Dam project that remains unutilised must be immediately returned to the original owners.

To permanently resolve agricultural market prices, Shinde said the government should remove agricultural produce from the purview of the Essential Commodities Act under the newly included Schedule 9 of the original Constitution.

As for the quota demand, Shinde said, “If legal Maratha reservation in economic matters and jobs is not granted, then economically weaker and marginal Maratha community members should be provided interest-free, collateral-free, guarantor-free, and CIBIL score-free credit for education, business, farming, and healthcare.”

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“State Agriculture Minister Dattaray Bharne has promised them that he would hold a meeting with members of the organisation soon. We are waiting for the meeting with the minister,” he said.

Shinde said they have also sent a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging his urgent intervention. In the letter, the organisation said the CM has been making an effort to develop the state by taking many important decisions to date. “However, despite your decisions, many sections of farmers and society do not appear happy or economically prosperous. This is the ground reality,” the letter said.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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