Shaktipeeth Expressway protest led by farmers and activists in Kolhapur: In a major development related to the ongoing opposition to the Shaktipeeth Expressway project, the Kolhapur police have filed cases against over 400 individuals, including former MP and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader Raju Shetti. The protestors were reportedly involved in a road blockade on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway (NH-4) in defiance of prohibitory orders.
Why the Protest?
The proposed Shaktipeeth Expressway is a part of a larger infrastructural development project intended to connect key pilgrimage centers across Maharashtra. However, farmer groups and activists allege that the highway project will lead to large-scale land acquisition, displace hundreds of families, and damage the environment.
Raju Shetti and other leaders argue that the government has failed to address the legitimate concerns of the farming community. “First take our lives, then take our land,” was the emotional cry of several protesters gathered near Shiroli MIDC in Kolhapur on July 2.
Police Action and Legal Consequences
Despite a prior injunction by the district administration, hundreds of protestors assembled and disrupted vehicular movement for over an hour. The Kolhapur Police later registered FIRs against 400 people under various sections of the IPC, including unlawful assembly, obstruction of public service, and violation of curfew orders.
Prominent names in the FIR include:
- Raju Shetti – Ex-MP & Farmer Leader
- Ruturaj Patil – Former MLA
- Raju Awale – Local Politician
- Vijay Devane – Farmer Activist
Regional Protests Intensify
Similar protests were also reported in Sangli and Parbhani districts, where more cases were registered. In Sangli, MP Vishal Patil and 50 others have been booked for leading the demonstration.
What Protestors Are Demanding
The farmers are calling for either a complete rollback of the expressway project or significant rerouting to avoid fertile agricultural land. They have also demanded a transparent review of the project’s environmental and social impact.
Government’s Response
So far, state officials have stated that the project has received necessary clearances and land acquisition will proceed lawfully. However, amid growing opposition and legal scrutiny, sources suggest that a high-level review meeting could be scheduled soon.
“We are not against development, but it should not come at the cost of our homes and fields,” said one protestor at the Kolhapur rally.
What Happens Next?
The legal proceedings against the protestors may escalate tensions further. Several farmer groups are planning to intensify their agitation, including symbolic ‘Jalsamadhi’ (water burial) protests and a rally to Pandharpur during Ashadhi Ekadashi.
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