Warkaris in Maharashtra have been carrying on a militant protest against the Dow Chemicals Plant near Pune, demanding that Dow be thrown out of India. In the course of their powerful agitation, thousands of Warkaris (disciples of the Bhakti saint Tukaram) have prevented the construction of the Dow plant, which they see as a threat to their rivers, land, environment and livelihood. 

On 20 October, after banning the main warkari leaders from the villages which are storm centres of the protest, Maharashtra police arrested Banda Tatya Maharaj Karadkar with a view to crushing the agitation. However, the reverse has happened. Powerful protests have followed in Thane, Kalyan, and Bhandup. Thousands of women, men and children have participated in these protests, defying state repression.

In Satara, warkaris gheraoed deputy Chief Minister RR Patil. They demanded immediate scrapping of permission to Dow and immediate release of Banda Tatya and other warkaris. Patil assured that government will consider withdrawing all the cases against Banda Tatya and other warkaris and villagers. Massive protests continued in Shirpur (Dhule district), Nashik, Malegaon, Jalgaon, Aurangabad, Ahmednagar, Pune, Sangli, Solapur, Latur and other places.

Students who take formal education within the framework of warkari tradition to become warkaris came out in open protests in Alandi. Around ten thousand students of Alandi came out on road demanding immediate release of Banda Tatya, withdrawal of all cases and immediate scrapping of Dow Chemicals' project in Shinde.

As we go to the press, reports indicate intensification of the struggle of people, as well as plans for intensified state repression.