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 IST

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 IST

'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.