Youth Congress burns Sanjay Gaikwad effigy in Karad, seeks apology to farmers in 24 hours

The Youth Congress held a protest against MLA Sanjay Gaikwad in Karad in Satara district. The organisation has accused Gaikwad of making offensive and derogatory remarks about farmers, and the protest was held over that allegation.

Youth Congress workers dumped a symbolic effigy of Gaikwad on the road. They then registered their protest by showing stray dogs tearing at the effigy. The Youth Congress chose this unusual form of protest.

Youth Congress district president Rahul Pawar warned that leaders who insult farmers would be confronted in the same manner from now on. Pawar also said Maharashtra would never tolerate remarks that rub salt into farmers' wounds. He said that if no apology was offered, the Youth Congress would not hesitate to stage a strong protest by setting stray dogs on the MLA and smearing his face with black paint.

The Youth Congress's Mahesh Karche also spoke on the occasion. He said Maharashtra's farmers toil day and night to feed the country. Karche said elected representatives who make derogatory and insensitive remarks about such farmers place no value on their feelings.

Karche said farmers are already distressed by suicides, indebtedness, inadequate prices for their produce and natural calamities. He said mocking their suffering at such a time was deeply outrageous.

Karche also made a direct demand. He said Mahayuti MLA Sanjay Gaikwad should publicly apologise to the farmers of Maharashtra within the next 24 hours. He warned that if this did not happen, the Youth Congress would launch an even sharper agitation. Karche also said leaders who make derogatory remarks about farmers would be confronted on the streets from now on.

District president Rahul Pawar, NSUI president Mubin Bagwan, Man taluka president Mahesh Karche, Karad South Youth Congress president Chaitanya Patil, Jitu Yadav, taluka president Devdas Mane, Digvijay Jamale and Sameer Inamdar took part in the protest. Other Youth Congress office-bearers and workers were also present.

The protest strongly condemned the remarks of Mahayuti MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, and slogans were shouted loudly. Youth Congress workers expressed their resolve that no leader who insults farmers would be forgiven from now on.