NCP supremo Sharad Pawar today asked the members of Maharashtra State Cooperative Sugar Federation to meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the long-pending issues of sugarcane workers.
Stating that the CM should take initiative in this regard, Pawar said he was ready to facilitate a meeting.
A delegation from the Federation met Pawar here today, seeking his intervention.
Pawar, however, said that as he was not in power any longer, he himself will not be able to resolve the issues directly.
"The first meeting of the Federation should be with the Chief Minister to resolve the issue of 20 per cent increase in wages," Pawar was quoted as saying by a statement released by his party.
"I am ready to facilitate a meeting of the Federation delegation with Fadnavis on these issues, but he (Fadnavis) should first take an initiative," Pawar said.
Sugarcane farm workers have demanded 20 per cent hike in wages, increased commission for supervisors ('mukadams') and hike in transport rates. They also demand that their dues be paid off immediately.
Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde had organised today's meeting with Pawar.
Recalling his relations with the late BJP leader Gopinath Munde, Pawar said they had jointly solved several issues of the sugarcane workers, though Pawar at that time was in the government while Munde was in the opposition.
"Over the workers' issues, we had no differences," he said.
