Farmers’ protest march delayed, to begin today
MUMBAI: The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), which was to take out a long march from Nashik to Mumbai to assert their demands on Wednesday, postponed the same by a day as vehicles carrying farmers were detained by police personnel at Palghar, Kasara, Dahanu and Jawhar.
More than 30,000 farmers are now expected to undertake the 200-kilometre march on Thursday at 8am.
Among their demands are revision of the river linking agreement to ensure the water is not diverted to Gujarat, implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations, transfer of forest land to tribals and pension scheme for farmers.
While the Nashik police had allowed the farmers to meet at the venue in Nashik, it denied them permission to undertake the march to Mumbai. However, AIKS has said they will march despite the denial of permission.
“It will be a peaceful march and it is our democratic right to protest. The farmers are in extremely bad condition and are protesting instead of committing suicide,” said Ajit Navale, state secretary, AIKS.
Ashok Dhawale, president, AIKS, blamed the state government for the impasse. “They prevented farmers from coming to Nashik as they feared political repercussions. However after we intervened, the police relented and allowed the vehicles to pass. We had to postpone the march by a day as many of the farmers were stuck on the way,” said Dhawale.
Dhawale said that he has heard the state cabinet minister Girish Mahajan would be coming to visit them. “We are ready for talks [with Mahajan] but we need definite guarantees and timelines, not just assurances like last time,” he said.
A similar march was carried organised by the AIKS in March last year. After reaching Mumbai, the government had assured the farmers that their demands would be met. However, the state is yet to make good on those promises and hence they are taking out another march, said the AIKS.