Maharashtra Farmers Protest Live Update | 'All Demands Met', Says Minister Chandrakant Patil At Azad Maidan

Maharashtra Minister for Tribal Development Vishnu Savra, who was part of government delegation, on Monday said that the Forest Rights Act (FRA) related issues of the  protesting farmers will be sorted within six months.  Minister Chandrakant Patil at Azad Maidan said that all demands have beenmet.

Azad Maidan in South Mumbai turned into a sea of red this morning as thousands of farmers, carrying red flags, converged here after walking around 180 km under blazing sun over the last six days.

In a silent protest, the farmers earlier surround the Assembly complex to press for their demands of an unconditional loan waiver, and transfer of forest land to tribal farmers who have been tilling it for years.

The Long March had been organised to denounce the BJP state government for betraying all its assurances given to the peasantry during the last two years on issues like farm loan waiver, remunerative prices, recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission and the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA).

It also demanded the following: Complete change in the river linking scheme proposed to be started in Nashik, Thane and Palghar districts, so as to ensure that tribal villages are not submerged and water is made available to these districts and to other drought-prone districts in the state; opposition to acquisition of peasants' lands in the name of fancy and elitist projects of the rulers like the bullet train and super highways; temple lands and pasture lands to be vested in the names of the tillers; increase in pension schemes to poor peasants and agricultural workers; compensation for great losses sustained by peasants due to pest attacks and hailstorms; and burning issues connected to the public distribution system (PDS).

Of these FRA demand and ration card has been accepted.

Live updates:

15:00- Meeting with a delegation of farmers and all political parties begins at Vidhan Bhawan under the chairmanship of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.

12:50-  "I think we'll give solutions for 80-90% of their issues. We're serious about the demands including loan waiver & will come up with best decisions. Written assurance will be given for accepted demands," says Girish Mahajan, Maharashtra Minister to ANI.

11:45-State is positive about demands of farmers. 95% of the protesters are tribals, so technically they are not farmers, says Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra CM. He will meet farmers at 1 pm

11:00-Assembly Session starts a discussion on the farmers' long march 

10:45- CM Fadnavis lauds protesters for being disciplined, for accepting to walk on service roads without causing inconvenience to the Class 10 board exam students.

9:50- State Reserve Police Force and Riot Control Force deployed in Azad Maidan, south Mumbai.

9:30: A 6-member committee headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to meet farmers' delegation.

9:00 am-Visuals from Mumbai's Azad Maidan where members of All India Kisan Sabha have gathered to protest.

The CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha, which is spearheading the protest, said it will consider what the government has to offer.

CPI(M) leader Ashok Dhawle said over 50,000 people have joined the protest.

"We will begin our rally after 11 am today so that students appearing for their Class 10 board exam don't face any difficulties," he said.

Tribals from Thane district have joined the farmers from Nashik district in the protest.

Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan, who welcomed the march at Mulund in suburban Mumbai yesterday, said the government, which has met earlier demands by farmers, will consider their latest ones.

The opposition Congress, NCP, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and also Shiv Sena, which is part of the BJP-led ruling alliance in the state, have extended support to the farmers' demands.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray met the farmers yesterday.

In November last year, the state government announced a farm loan waiver, terming it the "biggest loan waiver in Maharashtra's history".

Last month, state Governor Vidyasagar Rao told the state legislature that the government has transferred over Rs 12,000 crore into bank accounts of 31 lakh farmers.

Farmers also want the implementation of the M S Swaminathan Commission report, which says farmers should be paid one-and-a-half times the cost of production and the Minimum Support Price should be fixed keeping this in mind.

While there is no likelihood of all farmers being allowed to proceed to the Assembly complex from Azad Maidan, a delegation of farmer leaders will be allowed to meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

(Picture source: Riteish Deshmukh/Twitter)