Farmers protest: Allegations made by farmer leaders against Maha governor's absence are false ?

The Maharashtra Governor has time to meet Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, but not the thousands of "kisan brothers" who have assembled in Mumbai in huge numbers from all over the state, Nationalist Congress Party Sharad Pawar said here on Monday.

Pawar's acidic remarks came after he was informed that the Governor is not in the state and has reportedly gone to Goa, putting a question mark on the plans of the Samyukta Shetkari Kamgar Morcha leaders to submit the memorandum.

Koshyari, who also holds the additional charge of Goa, was in the coastal state on Sunday for the closing ceremony of the 51st International Film Festival of India and to address the Goa Legislature Budget Session opening. He is likely to return to Mumbai late on Monday night.

All India Kisan Sabha President Ashok Dhawale, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant and others "tore copies" of the memorandum to protest against the Governor's "anti-farmer bias" and send a copy of the representation to President Ram Nath Kovind. Dhawale pointed out that the farmers' organisers had last week informed the Raj Bhavan about their plans to come and hand over a memorandum to the Governor to repeal the three Central farm laws.

"This is an insult to the farmers and is regretful. We will tear the memorandum in protest," Dhawale said

However, a letter sent to the farmers' leaders from Raj Bhavan has revealed that a reply was sent to the farmers mentioning Governor's visit to Goa and he won't be able to accept the memrandum of the farmer leader in person, a statement from the Raj Bhavan said.

A statement from Raj Bhavan said, "Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has the additional charge of Goa Governor. As he will be addressing the first session of the Goa Legislative Assembly on January 25, it has already been clarified from the Raj Bhavan that the Governor will not be able to meet the farmers' delegation today."