Pune: The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana took a hiatus from criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to congratulate it for the decision taken to waive off stamp duty worth Rs 23 crore, which was applicable to farmers in Rajgurunagar who are trying to get their farmlands back. The land of almost 1,200 acres was acquired for a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the year 2007.

Khed Economic Infrastructure Company (KEIC) had acquired the land in the year 2007 for a proposed SEZ. The farmers, who owned this land, were given shares in the company worth the value of the lands. 15 per cent of this total land was to be returned to the farmers affected by the project. The farmers, however, have not received this land.

For years, farmers under the leadership of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna made several attempts to get this land back. In 2015, KEIC agreed to release the land, but the transfer of the land required the farmers to pay a stamp duty amounting to Rs 23 crore.

Addressing the media at a press conference on Tuesday, Raju Shetti, who was talking over the phone, said that he welcomes the decision.

“We have been fighting for the farmers to get back this land since 2015. The company did agree to give back the land, but the duty was an obstacle for the farmers. I thank and congratulate Chief Minister Fadnavis and the government for their decision to waive off the duty,” Shetti said.