Devendra Fadnavis condoles Sharad Joshi's demise

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condoled the demise of Shetkari Sanghatna leader Sharad Joshi today.

"Saddened by the demise of an advocate, an activist and a leader of farmers, an economist Sharad Joshi," Fadnavis said.

"His struggle for better marketing facilities and new technologies for farming will be remembered and we will take it forward for betterment of farmers," he tweeted.

Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and in the Council Dhananjay Munde also hailed Joshi's contribution towards welfare of farmers.

They said Joshi's agitation for farmers had only one agenda -- fetching farmers proper price for their crop.

Joshi, 81, died of old age in Pune today.

Joshi floated Shetkari Sanghatana in 1979 to fight for farmers' cause and came into limelight with an agitation of onion growers in 1980 to demand remunerative prices for the produce. He was also member of Rajya Sabha from 2004-10.