Maharashtra CM Shinde To Hold Talks With Farmers, Tribals Marching To Mumbai With List Of Demands

The Maharashtra government is set to hold another round of talks with a delegation representing thousands of farmers and tribals, who are walking towards Mumbai with their demands.

Farmers are on their way to Mumbai, holding protest march over issues including Onion prices, waiving off Kisan loans.

The Maharashtra government on Thursday is set to hold another round of talks with a delegation representing thousands of farmers and tribals, who are walking towards Mumbai, in its bid to address their demands, said former MLA Jiva Gavit spearheading the long march, as reported by the news agency PTI.

The talks will be held with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, ministers concerned and top state officials, he said. Ministers Dada Bhuse and Atul Save on Wednesday met a delegation of farmers as scores of farmers and tribals marching towards Mumbai from Nashik district in North Maharashtra entered Thane district, 

Thane, Maharashtra | Farmers hold protest march & reach Thane

Farmers are on their way to Mumbai, holding protest march over issues including Onion prices, waiving off Kisan loans pic.twitter.com/4bahx7cMuP

— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2023

Former legislator Gavit said the ministers have invited the delegation of farmers and tribals for a meeting with CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday. “They have responded to 40 per cent of the demands,” Gavit said, PTI reported.

“Respecting the invitation extended to us, we are going to attend the meeting,” Gavit said. He added that the march will continue if the answers from the government remain unsatisfactory. In the meeting held on Wednesday night, Gavit said the ministers were positive about some of their demands. However, the decisions will be taken in the state secretariat.

According to PTI, the protesters, holding red flags, started their foot march from Dindori town in Nashik district, around 200 km from Mumbai, on Sunday in support of their various demands. The demands include an immediate financial relief of Rs 600 per quintal to onion growers, uninterrupted electricity supply for 12 hours and a waiver of agriculture loans.