Maharashtra farmers begin march as govt struggles for solution

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, February 21

Around 50,000 farmers have begun a long march to Mumbai from Nashik after negotiations with the Maharashtra government till the wee hours of Thursday failed.

According to the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), which is organising the protest, negotiations with Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan on Wednesday night failed to make headway.

“The minister agreed with 80 per cent of our demands. But we want the government to give things in writing,” AIKS president Ashok Dhawale said.

Several thousand farmers who had assembled at the Nashik Maidan on Wednesday began their march to Mumbai early on Thursday morning. The Maharashtra government which had deployed contingents of riot police also agreed to let marchers hit the road fearing an outbreak of violence if the people were restrained, officials said.

Apart from a complete loan waiver, the farmers are demanding minimum support price for crops as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission.

According to AIKS, the farmers were betrayed by the Maharashtra government that had made a number of promises to them after the first long march last year.

Meanwhile, state government officials said talks with the farmers would continue and attempts were on to persuade them to call off the march before it is scheduled to reach Mumbai on February 27.