Around 25,000 farmers set out on long march to Mumbai | Free Press Journal

Around 25,000 farmers today set out for Mumbai from Nashik in northern Maharashtra as part of a “long march” protest organised by the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) for a complete loan waiver and other demands. The farmers from districts of Thane and Palghar on way to Mumbai are expected to join the march later. Addressing a huge gathering of farmers at the CBS chowk in central Nashik this evening, farmer leaders announced they would ‘gherao’ the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha in Mumbai, a distance of 180 kms from Nashik, for resolution of their issues.

Agriculturists have been demanding a complete waiver of loans and electricity bills apart from implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission. “We also want the state government to refrain from forceful acquisition of farm lands in the name of development projects like Super Highway and Bullet Train,” AIKS Secretary Raju Desle said while addresing the farmers.

He said a total of 25,000 farmers started for Mumbai this evening. Desle claimed as many as 1,753 farmers have killed themselves since June last when the BJP-led state government announced a conditional farm loan waiver of Rs 34,000 crore.

Source: Around 25,000 farmers set out on long march to Mumbai | Free Press Journal