Maharashtra government promises to look into all demands of farmers, forms a panel

Pic courtesy: IANS

Mumbai: A protest march by 30,000 farmers against the failure of the BJP-led government to address agrarian distress entered Mumbai on Saturday. The march, led by All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) - a peasants front of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), was launched from Nashik on Tuesday.

Complete loan waiver and profit of 1.5 times input cost for all major agriculture commodities are the major demands of the AIKS. These farmers want an immediate implementation of MS Swaminathan committee's recommendations, which ensures fair remuneration.

The agitating farmers are also demanding compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre for destruction of crops due to hailstorm and pink-worm, allocation of forest land under cultivation to farmers and implementation of Forest Rights Act. 

12 March 2018

16:19 PM

Maharashtra government assures protesting farmers that all their demands will be looked into. Government to form six-member committee to look into the issue.

15:30 PM

'We're positive towards fulfilling their (farmers demands. Since 1st day of the morcha we tried to discuss issues with them. Girish Mahajan was in touch with them from day one, but they were firm on taking out the march, says Maharashtra CM in the state Assembly.

14:06 PM

We're positive in fulfilling demands. Since the first day of the morcha we tried to discuss various issues with them. Girish Mahajan was in touch with them from day one. But they were firm on taking out the March, says Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.

13:13 PM

The mammoth farmers march is a stunning example of people’s power. The Congress party stands with the farmers and tribals marching to protest against the central and state government's apathy, tweets Rahul Gandhi. 

The mammoth #FarmersMarchToMumbai is a stunning example of people’s power. The Congress party stands with the Farmers & Tribals marching to protest against the Central & State Govts. apathy.

I appeal to PM Modi and the CM to not stand on ego and to accept their just demands.

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) March 12, 2018

13:00 PM

Farmers delegation reach Maharashtra Assembly for the meeting with the committee formed by the state government to discuss their demands.

Farmers delegation reached #Maharashtra Assembly for the meeting with the State Govt formed committee to discuss their demands. pic.twitter.com/aNME0B9FLA

— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2018

12:59 PM

There'll be a meeting with farmers at 1pm. I think we'll give solutions for 80-90% of their issues. We're serious about the demands including loan waiver & will come up with best decisions. Written assurance will be given for accepted demands, says Girish Mahajan, Maharashtra Minister.

11:21 AM

 Farmers delegation to meet Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis at around 2 pm, as per reports.

11:13 AM

JJ flyover, 05:00 AM. #KisanLongMarch pic.twitter.com/9S1hNlwD91

— AIKS (@KisanSabha) March 12, 2018

11:12 AM

#FarmersMarch marching to Mumbai's Azad Maidan last night. pic.twitter.com/LLme2Ppc1V

— AIKS (@KisanSabha) March 12, 2018

11:12 AM

This is not an issue of Maharashtra farmers alone but of farmers all over India, says Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

09:17 AM

#WATCH: Visuals from Mumbai's Azad Maidan where members of All India Kisan Sabha have gathered to protest. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/3GgN6UMVPB

— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2018

08:12 AM

No road closure or diversions due to Farmers' morcha now, says Amitesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

08:12 AM

#Maharashtra: Latest visuals of All India Kisan Sabha protest which has reached Mumbai's Azad Maidan. The protest will proceed to state assembly later in the day. pic.twitter.com/Dp5hsKU1Rc

— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2018

08:08 AM

Mumbai Police had tweeted earlier:

Today, Traffic mvmt will be normal like any other day. Tr R no diversions proposed on any road in limits of Mumbai 4 the proposed ‘Long March’. We will be posting updates as and when required. Don’t believe in rumours. Contact @MumbaiPolice & Dial 100 for any such verification.

— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) March 11, 2018

07:15 AM

#Maharashtra: All India Kisan Sabha's protest march, demanding a complete loan waiver among other demands, arrives at Azad Maidan in #Mumbai, will proceed to state assembly later in the day pic.twitter.com/3BP50RlvJN

— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2018

07:15 AM

#Maharashtra: All India Kisan Sabha's protest march arrives at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station in #Mumbai, will proceed to state assembly later in the day. Over 30,000 farmers in the march are demanding a complete loan waiver among other demands. pic.twitter.com/9YkTo9agnI

— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2018

07:12 AM

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday night had said his government will talk to the farmers.

He had also appealed agitators not to hold up the traffic on Monday so that students appearing for Std 10th exams in the city are not delayed.

"We will talk to them and sort out their issues. The government is positive on their demands. Most of the agitators are tribals, and their main demand is forest land rights," Fadnavis had told PTI.

07:11 AM

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray had on Saturday come out in support of the farmers who had reached Mumbai.

"This government is incapable of doing anything," the MNS chief had said, addressing thousands of farmers who had taken rest at Somaiya Ground in Sion.

06:59 AM

Farmers, led by All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) - a peasants front of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), will stage a protest outside the Maharashtra legislative Assembly on March 12, demanding fair remuneration and loan waiver.