Farmers’ long march reaches Igatpuri tehsil | Times of India

Around 30,000 farmers from across the state on Tuesday embarked on a march from Nashik to Mumbai to press their demands, including complete waiver of farm loans and minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
On Wednesday, they reached Ghatandevi in Igatpuri tehsil, covering a distance of 60km from Nashik city.

They will walk 185km to reach Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai on March 12 and start their protest until their demands are approved. The long march has been organised by Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha.

Around 10,000 farmers will join the march at Khardi on the Mumbai highway. Farmers from the villages along the route will join the march as it proceeds.

“The march is to protest against the state government for its failure in working in the interests of farmers. We want complete waiver of farm loan to all farmers and without any conditions. Only a few farmers have got benefit of the farm loan waiver,” said Ajit Navle, state president of Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha.

“The number of farmers will swell to one lakh by the time it reaches Mumbai. They will protest outside Vidhan Bhavan from Monday until the government approves their demands,” Navle said.

Kisan Sabha wants the government to guarantee rates for farm produce that should be one-and-a-half of the production cost, including labour cost and rate of interest on the capital invested. It also wants the government to introduce pension scheme for farmers aged over 60 years.

Source: Farmers’ long march reaches Igatpuri tehsil | Nashik News – Times of India