Maharashtra govt brings out kid gloves to tackle marching farmers

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, March 10

Rattled by the sight of several thousand farmers marching to gherao Mantralaya -- the secretariat -- on Monday, the Maharashtra government has asked the police and law enforcement agencies to let them enter Mumbai unhindered.

On Saturday, 25,000-30,000 farmers entered the former textile town of Bhiwandi disrupting traffic on the arterial road connecting it to Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai.

No untoward incident has been reported so far and the marchers are moving in orderly fashion, an official from the state police control room said.

Traffic was diverted at many places with police personnel out on the streets ensuring that there were no altercations between motorists and the marchers.

The marchers, who are covering 30 km per day, are expected to enter Mumbai city limits on Sunday and are likely to reach the southern part of the city where the legislature building is located, late in the evening.

The farmers under the banner of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKB) have set seven demands, including complete waiver of farm loans and implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations.

Meanwhile, sources in the state government say senior officials are working through the weekend to prepare for any contingency on Monday.

Though the Bombay High Court has banned protests and morchas in the vicinity of Mantralaya the city police have been asked not to interfere with the marchers, sources said.