Thane: A protest march by approx. 35,000 farmers against the failure of the BJP-led government to address agrarian distress reached Thane on Sunday, March 11.
The 180-km long foot march, led by All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) – a peasants front of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) – was launched from Nashik on Tuesday, March 6.
The farmers will stage a protest outside the legislative assembly here on March 12, demanding fair remuneration and loan waiver.
These farmers will seek answers from the government for non-implementation of the demands that were promised by then, said Ajit Nawale, state general secretary of AIKS.
“Farmers in the state are reeling under the ripples of agrarian distress and they are under huge financial burden. The government has not done anything to provide them with any relief. So they are left with no option but to express their anguish through the protest march,” Nawale told IANS.
The number of protesters is expected to grow to 55,000- 60,000 as it draws closer to its destination.
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 the M.S. 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.
While the organisers have said they would try to reach the assembly in a peaceful manner, the government is likely to stop the protest march at Azad Maidan.
The BJP is not just facing flak from the opposition but its estranged ally Shiv Sena has also extended its support to the protesting farmers.
Traffic police issue advisory
The march is expected to proceed to the KJ Somaiya ground in central Mumbai where they will be met by MNS chief Raj Thackeray, after which the march will make its way to the state Legislative Assembly on Monday.
Considering the potential congestive scenario, the Mumbai traffic police have issued an advisory which mentions that the Eastern Express Highway which is southbound from Anand Nagar toll plaza to the Somaiya ground will be closed on Monday for heavy and goods vehichles between 9 am and 11 pm. Traffic will be diverted via Kalwa, Airoli, Vashi Creek and Vitava.
Elaborate security measures are also being put in place to avoid any untoward incidents.
With inputs from IANS
