Maharashtra farmers march Live: Government positive towards protesters' demands, says CM Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra farmers' march: After walking with blistered feet for about 180 km under the scorching sun over the last five days, All India Kisan Sabha's protest march, led by around 40,000 farmers, on Sunday entered Mumbai. The farmers, who began their march from Nashik, have turned the roads of India's financial capital into a sea of red.

Farmers of All Indian Kisan Sabha (AIKS) march from Nashik to Mumbai to gherao Vidhan Bhawan on March 12, (Photo: PTI)

MUMBAI: After walking with blistered feet for about 180 km under the scorching sun over the last five days, All India Kisan Sabha's protest march, led by around 40,000 farmers, on Sunday entered Mumbai. The farmers, who began their march from Nashik, have turned the roads of India's financial capital into a sea of red. To press their various demands, the peasants plan to lay siege to the state legislature complex on Monday. The huge crowd arrived at Azad Maidan early morning. Live Updates of Maharashtra farmers' march:

•  A delegation of farmers from All India Kisan Sabha reached the Maharashtra Assembly for the meeting with the state government-formed committee to discuss their demands.
• Around 90 to 95 per cent of the participants are poor tribals. They are fighting for forest land rights. They are landless and can't do farming. The government is sensitive and positive towards their demands. But they were adamant on the march. We tried to talk to them. All help was provided, like traffic management and deployment of medical vans: CM Devendra Fadnavis on Farmers' march
• Our rally was scheduled to reach Azad Maidan Monday morning but knowing that it's an exam day and students will get affected, we decided arrived here at night. We don't want to disrupt normal life: A protesting farmer told ABP News

• • • A delegation of agitating farmers will meet chief minister Devendra Fadnavis at 2 PM.
    • No road closure or diversions due to Farmers' Morcha now: Amitesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic)
    •  Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan said the government, which has met earlier demands by farmers, will consider their latest ones.

#Maharashtra: Latest visuals of All India Kisan Sabha protest which has reached Mumbai's Azad Maidan. The protest will proceed to state assembly later in the day. pic.twitter.com/Dp5hsKU1Rc

— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2018

#WATCH: Visuals from Mumbai's Azad Maidan where members of All India Kisan Sabha have gathered to protest. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/3GgN6UMVPB

— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2018

#Maharashtra: All India Kisan Sabha's protest march, demanding a complete loan waiver among other demands, arrives at Azad Maidan in #Mumbai, will proceed to state assembly later in the day pic.twitter.com/3BP50RlvJN

— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2018

#Maharashtra: All India Kisan Sabha's protest march arrives at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station in #Mumbai, will proceed to state assembly later in the day. Over 30,000 farmers in the march are demanding a complete loan waiver among other demands. pic.twitter.com/9YkTo9agnI

— ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2018

• • We will talk to them and sort out their issues. The Government is positive on their demands. Most of the agitators are tribals, and their main demand is forest land rights: Fadnavis
  • We have set up a committee of ministers to hold discussions on their demands. I have invited them (farmer leaders) for talks. I have only made an appeal that they should not cause any problem to the traffic since it's an exam day and more than one lakh students will get affected: Fadnavis
  • Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said his government will talk to the farmers. He also appealed agitators not to hold up the traffic tomorrow so that students appearing for Std 10th exams in the city are not delayed.