Maharashtra: 30,000 farmers, tribals begin two-day protest

Around 30,000 farmers and tribals will begin their two-day protest march from Thane on Wednesday, November 21, to ensure that their pending demands are met.

The protest march will start in Thane and end at Azad Maidan. Some of major demands include the implementation of Swaminathan Committee Report, passing of claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), MSP and setting up of a judicial system to ensure its implementation, complete farm loan waiver and compensation of drought of ₹50,000 per acre for non-irrigated land and ₹1 lakh per acre for irrigated land.

The Maharashtra unit of AAP has extended support to the protest.

Tribal and farmers from North Maharashtra, Vidarbha, Ahmednagar and other parts of Maharashtra will participate in the protest. Water conservationist Dr Rajendra Singh, MP Raju Shetty and others will also take part in the rally.

Pratibha Shinde, general secretary of the Lok Sangharsh Morcha, “When the farmers’ long march was held from Nashik to Mumbai in March this year, the government had promised that all pending claims pertaining to FRA will be cleared in six months. But it has failed to keep its promise.”

“Besides, the farmers are getting less than the MSP for their produce and there is no place where they can complain about it. So, there is a need to have a judicial system to keep check on whether the farmers are getting the MSP,” she added.

Dhananjay Shinde, spokesperson of Aam Adami Party, which has extended support to the protest, said that many parts of Maharashtra, which has been facing drought have not been declared drought-hit.

“The government needs to look at the ground reality and announce drought in more affected areas,” said Shinde.

Shinde said the representatives of all religions would also take part in the protest on Thursday, November 22, to support the farmers. Other parties such as Janta Dal (Secular), Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) have also extended support to the protest.