New Delhi: Thousands of farmers from various districts of Maharashtra have begun marching from Nashik to Mumbai to highlight their problems, particularly over onion prices.
All participants gathered in Nashik before starting walking on Monday under the banner of the All India Kisan Mahasabha. Unorganised sector workers as well as ASHA or community health workers have also joined the “long march” this time.
VIDEO | Thousands of farmers from various districts of Maharashtra are on a foot march from Nashik city to Mumbai to highlight their woes. pic.twitter.com/QAKg41CRBt
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 14, 2023
This is the third such agitation organised since 2018 from Nashik and farmers will cover the 170 kilometres to the capital by foot.
They are talking about minimum support price for onions, appropriate prices for agricultural produce and milk products, electricity bill waiver, delay in implementation of the Forests Rights Act (FRA) and the woes of tribal people among other things. They will reach Mumbai on 20 March.
While the morcha will continue, a 15-member team of representatives are expected to meet Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday after a five-hour marathon meeting with Nashik district guardian minister Dada Bhuse failed Monday night.
In 2018, a similar “long march” from Nashik to Mumbai was led by the CPI (M), Kisan Sabha and other like-minded organisations over various demands, including an unconditional loan waiver and transfer of forest land to tribal farmers who have been tilling it for years.
Thousands of farmers had participated in it. After it reached Mumbai, the government – then led by Devendra Fadnavis – had accepted their demands, following which the protest was called off.
Many farmers are walking again because of the delay in FRA implementation, which was promised by Fadnavis.
Meanwhile, state Congress president Nana Patole said Tuesday: “Be it the central government or the Maharashtra government, both are anti-farmer. The state is not helping farmers, we want the demands of farmers to be fulfilled and the old pension scheme to be implemented. Else, we will hold a “Kursi Chhodo Andolan” throughout the state.”