Malegaon, July 16:  Amid the ongoing agitation by dairy farmers for higher procurement prices for milk, workers of Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathna (SSS) on Monday set ablaze a truck of Rajhans Milk Shop in Washim's Malegaon. According to a tweet by ANI, the driver later escaped the fire without any injuries. Dairy farmers across the state have taken to streets seeking higher prices for milk and transferring of Rs 5 per litre in their accounts directly.

Even after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis disapproved the agitation, milk tankers were stopped in several districts of Maharashtra by protesters demanding hike in procurement price.  As part of the protest, the farmers' organisations in Maharashtra suspended supply of milk to Mumbai and Pune demanding a hike of Rs 5 per litre in the procurement price of cow's milk.

Watch Video: Workers of Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathna set a truck on fire in Malegaon:

Raju Shetti, the Chief of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) said the decision was taken because the state government was not taking any steps to increase farmers' income.

On Monday, the Opposition created a ruckus on the issue and accused the government of being "anti-farmer" and "indifferent" to their plight. They supported the agitators and walked out of the Maharashtra Assembly.

According to a report by PTI, the government hit back by stating that it was farmers groups, led by MP Raju Shetti, which were "anti-farmer".

Fadnavis on Sunday expressed concern about the agitation launched by milk suppliers and said the government is open for talks on any issue. Fadnavis also assured that milk supply will not be affected in view of the protest.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 16, 2018 04:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).