Farmers to protest outside Maharashtra Assembly on Monday

Mumbai: Over 35,000 farmers from across Maharashtra, who embarked on a `Long March' from Nashik on March 6 to press for a complete loan waiver, will protest outside the Vidhan Bhavan (Maharashtra Assembly) on Monday.

Led by the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), the farmers had reached Mumbai late on Sunday.

Apart from the opposition parties, Shiv Sena, a partner in the ruling BJP-led coalition, too has vocally supported the agitation.

In a bid to resolve the crisis, the state government reached out to farmers, promising to meet their demands, but farmers' leaders said they will press on with their protest at the Vidhan Bhavan (Legislature Complex).

The farmers, under the aegis of the Left-affiliated AIKS, are demanding, among other things, proper implementation of the Maharashtra government's loan waiver scheme.

Braving scorching heat, they had covered around 180 km on foot in six days.

The protesters halted at the Somaiya ground in suburban Chunabhatti from where they will set out for Vidhan Bhavan in south Mumbai, where the Budget Session is underway.

"We will gherao (lay siege to) the Vidhan Bhavan on Monday to demand a complete loan waiver, fair price for farm produce, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, compensation for hailstorm-affected farmers among other things," Kisan Gujar, president of the state council of AIKS, had earlier said.

"Today, our number is over 35,000. Over 20,000 farmers from other parts of the state will join on Monday," he said, adding the farmers were also protesting against land acquisition for projects such as high-speed railway and super-highways.

"Though we have been approached by the government officials advising us not to stay near the Vidhan Bhavan for long, everything will depend on how the government deals with our demands," Gujar said.

From the government's side, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, who is also guardian minister for Nashik district, met farmers' leaders in Mulund as the march entered Mumbai, and assured that most of their demands will be met.

"The Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) has sent me to meet you. Most of your demands will be met. We will take a delegation to the Chief Minister," Mahajan said, addressing the protesters.

Senior BJP leader and Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar also assured that the chief minister will meet the protestors' delegation, and blamed the "apathetic" approach of past governments for the farmers' woes.

"Our government is committed to address all the grievances of farmers, which have accumulated due to the apathetic approach of the last several years...We are very sensitive towards farmers and two ministers (Tribal Development Minister Vishnu Savara and Mahajan) have already been asked to look into their demands," Mungantiwar said. 

Ajit Nawale of the AIKS, however, dismissed the overture. 

"The days of living on assurances have passed. Unless the government gives us something concrete, commits itself in writing, we will march towards the Vidhan Bhavan," he said.

Senior Shiv Sena leader and cabinet minister Eknath Shinde and Yuva Sena (Shiv Sena's youth wing) chief Aditya Thackeray also greeted the protesters in suburban Vikhroli.

Thackeray said the Shiv Sena stood "shoulder to shoulder" with farmers in their struggle.

It was wrong to say that farmers were demanding loan waiver, as they are not criminals that they should need a `waiver', Aditya said, adding "farmers are fighting for `freedom from debt'."

As so many farmers have marched to Mumbai despite the government's grand loan waiver, Sena leaders have demanded to see the list of actual beneficiaries of the scheme, he said.

Opposition Congress, NCP, Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and AAP, as well as ruling ally Shiv Sena have extended support to the farmers' march.

Patidar leader from Gujarat Nikhil Sawani, who joined the march, said his community supported the protesters.

As the march reached suburban Vikhroli, the phalanx of farmers - comprising both men and women - extended for almost three kilometres.

Meanwhile, the state government today issued an advisory to those appearing in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination cautioning them to reach their respective examination centres before time to avoid any hassles.

The advisory was issued keeping in view the farmers' scheduled protest outside the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Monday.

Traffic on most of the roads would be blocked due to the farmers’ march so the Maharashtra government advised the students appearing for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination to reach their centres before time on Monday.

Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde has tweeted, “In light of Kisan Long March, SSC students appearing for exams tomorrow are advised to ensure that they reach exam centres well beforehand to avoid delays. Concerned officials are hereby instructed to ensure safety & well-being of the students, safeguarding their academic future.”

Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti said that adequate security arrangements had been made. 

(With Agency inputs)