35,000 farmers reach Mumbai demanding loan waiver
Follow UsSome 35,000 farmers reached Mumbai on Sunday demanding, among other things, a complete loan waiver and leaving the city on edge.
The farmers, who are also demanding higher prices for their produce and implementation of the Swaminathan Committee recommendations, plan to gherao the Vidhan Sabha on Monday.
The farmers had marched to Mumbai from Nashik, with the 180-km-long march being led by All India Kisan Sabha National President Ashok Davle, local MLA JP Gavit and other leaders.
Though the All India Kisan Sabha party has communist associations, Davle said that the protest should not be branded as "communist". The protests, Davle said, was for a common cause and not restricted to the Left alone.
#WATCH: Over 30,000 farmers of All India Kisan Sabha march in protest demanding a complete loan waiver among other demands. The march started from Nashik and reached Mumbai today. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/dKinWWnmhf
— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2018
The Swaminathan Committee report says farmers should be reimbursed one-and-a-half times the cost of their produce and also fix the Minimum Support Price.
Longtime cultivators of Adivasi land also demanded transfer of the land to their names.
The protesters have been on the road for the last five days. They camped this morning at the Thane-Mumbai border.
The farmers have said their protest will not affect the residents of Mumbai but the city is on edge.
Traffic arrangements during the Long March tomorrow #TrafficUpdate pic.twitter.com/GVYJGkVa79
— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) March 10, 2018
Keeping in mind the Class X board exams, Davle said farmers will protest Monday at 11 am after students have got to their respective examination centres.
Mumbai Police meanwhile said they are fully prepared to handle the protesters and the potential traffic jams. They have however advised residents not to use the Eastern Express Highway.