Mumbai farmers' protest highlights: Farmers call off protest after state agrees to their demands

19:44 We are very happy. Our demands have been met. We will be getting back our land which is like mother to us: Suresh Jairam, Nashik farmer who was participating in the protest. (ANI)

18:55 JUST IN: Maharashtra farmers call off protest after state agrees to their demands

18:16 We have accepted most of their demands and have given them a written letter: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Maharashtra farmers' agitation

17:38 Only promising to fulfill the demands won't work, it's now the duty of the govt to work towards fulfilling what they've committed. They should think about the welfare of farmers so that they don't have to take it to the road next time: Anna Hazare on farmers’ agitation.

17:37 Farmers ki shikayat hai ki jo humari zameen hai us se kum unke naam par hai, toh jitni bhi zameen woh cultivate kar rahe hain woh unke naam par honi chahiye. CM has agreed. Chief Secretary will follow-up on this & implementation will start in 6 months: V Savra, minister.

16:30 Ashok Gulati says only 19 percent of farm land in Maharashtra has irrigation coverage and sugarcane comprises 75 percent of land with irrigation coverage in Maharashtra.

16:28 Loan waivers won't fix anything, it's an atonement for not reforming agriculture, and government needs to do capital investment in agriculture, Gulati told CNBC TV18.  

16:26 Ashok Gulati says agriculture investment will suffer due to loan waivers; Modi govt needs 13 percent agriculture growth for 5 years to double farm income, doubling farm income by 2022 is a pipe dream, reports CNBC TV18. 

16:22 Ashok Gulati says it's a crisis boiling over in Maharashtra, lip service won't work, & it is an emergency on the agriculture front, reports CNBC TV18. 

16:05 Farmers' protest likely to be called off after agreement with government, reports CNN News18 quoting sources.

15:40 Apart from the loan waiver and better Minimum Support Price, these farmers want the implementation of the Forest Rights Act to secure the rights of the people working on community lands and to help the farmers secure loans to opt for basic irrigation facilities.

15:13 Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and NCP leader Ajit Pawar will be part of the government’s talks with farmers.

15:03 Meeting with delegation of farmers and all political parties begins at Vidhan Bhawan under the chairmanship of
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.

14:58 Accept demands of farmers and tribals: Rahul Gandhi to PM, Fadnavis

Congress president Rahul Gandhi today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to shed their egos and accept the "just demands" of the thousands of farmers and tribals protesting in Mumbai.

The mammoth farmers march to Mumbai is a "stunning example of people's power", Gandhi said on Twitter. The Congress, he added, stands with the farmers and tribals marching to protest against the apathy of the central and state governments.

"I appeal to PM Modi and the CM to not stand on ego and to accept their just demands," Gandhi tweeted.

14:46 Maharashtra just the beginning, farmers from across India planning 'mother of all protests' in Delhi

The ongoing protest by thousands of farmers in the heart of Mumbai may just be the beginning. For, leaders of farmers’ associations in several states are planning to hold similar marches in their respective states — in the lead-up to a mega protest in the national capital in April.

“The government’s anti-farmer stand needs to be challenged. We will hold a rally for the same in Guwahati very soon. Also, all state farmer heads are in close collaboration and we are planning to hold a big protest in New Delhi sometime in April. Farmers from all over India will be present in that rally. State farm heads are meeting in Guwahati this month itself,” said Akhil Gogoi, a Northeast-based farmer rights leader.

India’s Northeast has been reeling under farmer crisis caused by land erosion, floods and the general terrain of the land. “The state government does not buy our output, which results in heavy losses to our farmers. The issues that have been raised in Maharashtra apply to farmers all over the country. The Mumbai march was a plan well-conceived and all of us had planned it keeping in mind the government’s stand,” said Gogoi.

Read the full report here. 

14:27 Heavy police security in Mumbai for farmers' march 

The Mumbai police is leaving no stone unturned to maintain law and order as thousands of farmers converged at the Azad Maidan here after walking around 180 km from Nashik to press for their various demands.

More than 35,000 farmers from across Maharashtra, who embarked on a 'Long March' last Tuesday, reached the Azad Maidan early today, after camping at the K J Somaiya Ground in Sion area.

"Some more farmers are expected to join the march from neighbouring districts. The police personnel are on their toes and prepared enough to maintain law and order," Deven Bharti, the joint-commissioner of police (crime), told PTI. 

"The march has came all the way peacefully to the country's financial capital," Bharti said, adding that the police hope to disperse the protesters also in a peaceful manner. As a huge number of protesters have gathered in the city, the police is keeping a tab to ward off any possible anti-social elements from taking advantage of the situation, another official said.

14:26 According to Talekar, the Mumbai roti-bank, of which the dabbawalas are an integral part, deploys GPS-tracked vans to collect excess food from eateries, hotels, public functions and households, so that it can be distributed to the poor and hungry people.

Meanwhile, city residents were also seen offering 'Vada-pav' (a popular street snack), other food items and water to farmers last night. A Mumbai resident also posted on social media a picture of food and water being distributed to farmers. Several political parties like the Congress, the NCP, the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have extended their support to the protesting farmers.

14:24 Dabbawals, Mumbaikars provide food to protesting farmers

The famed 'dabbawalas' of Mumbai and the city residents came out to help the thousands of farmers, who walked for six days to reach here from Nashik to raise their various demands, by providing them food and water.

The farmers walked upto the Azad Maidan in South Mumbai early this morning as a part of their 'long march' for raising demands, including implementation of the Maharashtra government's loan waiver scheme.

Subhash Talekar, the spokesperson of Mumbai Dabbawala Association, said, "We thought about helping the farmers with food as they are our food-providers and have come from remote parts of the state."

"We asked our men working between Dadar (in Central Mumbai) and Colaba (South Mumnbai) to collect food and deliver it to our farmer brothers at the Azad Maidan," he said. Dabbawalas, the tiffin-carriers known for their efficient delivery service, provided food to the protesters as a part of their 'roti-bank' initiative.

14:17 Farmers need to be heard, says Yuva Sena president Aaditya Thackeray

Thackeray said that when he spoke to them, he did not see red flags but red blood. "Whichever the flag they carry, whoever their political hero, government has to hear them."

"They are farmers who need to be heard. It’s unfortunate to be insensitive to those who feed us and put ideological cages on them. I’m proud of my fellow Shiv Sainiks who are with them nursing their wounds, and voicing the farmers in the Assembly too, only seeing their need.," he tweeted.

14:10 Govt positive towards farmers' demands: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said his government was "sensitive and positive" towards the demands of farmers and tribals, who have marched from Nashik to Mumbai to draw the administration's attention towards their problems.

Fadnavis was responding to a discussion in the Assembly, initiated by Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who lauded the farmers participating in the 'Kisan Long March' for their peaceful protest while demanding a complete loan waiver and compensation for hailstorm and pink bollworm pest attack on crops.

The Azad Maidan in South Mumbai turned into a sea of red this morning as thousands of farmers, carrying red flags, converged here after walking around 180 kms from the neighbouring Nashik district over the last six days.

The farmers plan to surround the Assembly complex to press for their demands of an unconditional loan waiver, and transfer of forest land to tribal farmers who have been tilling it for years. The CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha is spearheading the protest.

"They (the protesting farmers) reached the Azad Maidan early this morning from the K J Somaiya Ground in the eastern suburbs so that students appearing for their board exams are not hassled due to traffic jams. The Mumbaikars are also taking care of them," Vikhe Patil said in the House.

13:52  We're positive in fulfilling demands. Since the first day of the Morcha we tried to discuss various issues with them. Girish Mahajan was in touch with them from day one. But they were firm on taking out the March: CM Devendra Fadnavis said, reports ANI. 

13:52 Farmers will not fall prey to any of the tactics, says Shiv Sena

"However, seeing their persistence it can be gauged that farmers will not fall prey to any of the tactics," Shiv Sena said on Monday.

The Sena added that it would not give importance to what thoughts, organisation and colour the agitation represents.

"They do not have any caste, religion or political ideology...Farmers have red flags in their hands. How can the Sena support them is the question?" it said.

"We may have differences... however, their active participation in the state's agitation, especially for Mumbai, cannot be forgotten...those who do (forget), should be considered enemies of the state," the Sena said.

It noted that Shreepad Amrut Dange, Ahilya Rangnekar and
Shahir Annabhau Sathe were leaders with communist ideologies. "Mill workers and farmers were ready to spill their blood for the Maharashtra movement (held in the 1960s for creation of a separate Marathi-speaking state). Today, they are despondent and committing suicide," the Sena lamented.

13:50 Sena backs farmers' protest march Mumbai

The Shiv Sena today threw its weight behind the thousands of farmers who marched from Nashik to Mumbai to highlight their problems and said the party would back them regardless of their red flags.

The saffron party also said the role of leaders with communist ideology -- a red flag usually symbolises communism -- in the agitation for a separate Maharashtra cannot be forgotten.

The CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha is spearheading the protest that turned south Mumbai's Azad Maidan into a sea of red today as thousands of farmers carrying red flags converged there after walking around 180 km from neighbouring Nashik district.

The farmers plan to surround the state Assembly complex to press for their demands of an unconditional loan waiver and transfer of forest land to tribal farmers who have been tilling it for years. "It is possible that the government may talk of assurances to farmers and even deploy some of its ministers to temporarily confuse them," the Sena, an ally of the ruling BJP in Maharashtra and at the Centre, said in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

13:35 Mammoth farmers' march an example of people's power. Congress stands with farmers protesting against government apathy: Rahul Gandhi said.

13:30 Congress MP Nana Patole is addressing the morcha at Azad Maidan, reports Firstpost. 

13:21 'No question of compromise, will go back only when demands are fulfilled': Ajit Navale, Kisan leader

"This is not a political issue. The government must respect farmers. We have marched more than 100 kilometres and will go back only when all our demands are fulfilled,” AIKS general secretary Ajit Nawale said, reported Hindustan Times. 

13:01 Farmers delegation reached Maharashtra Assembly for the meeting with the State Govt formed six-member committee to discuss their demands, reports ANI.

12:56 "There'll be a meeting with farmers at 1 pm. I think we'll give solutions for 80-90 percent of their issues. We're serious about the demands including loan waiver and will come up with best decisions. Written assurance will be given for accepted demands," Girish Mahajan, Maharashtra Minister said.

12:50 Maharashtra farmers' protest propelled by urban Maoists. They are carrying red flags…They are influenced by Urban Maoists: Poonam Mahajan, BJP MP, told CNN News18.  

12:43 A twelve-member delegation of the farmers will be meeting the six-member committee in Vidhan Bhavan at 1 pm.  Leader of Opposition will also participate in the meeting. The CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha said it will consider what the government has to offer, reports CNN News18. 

12:37 "Central government, I think, is the biggest criminal on all these issues of farmers today. They have done nothing for farmers. These whole thing about implementing 1.5 times minimum support price (MSP) is a hoax. We have seen it in the Rabi crops, what they have done. It (MSP) is no where coming close to C2 + 50 as said by the Swaminathan Commission," Dhawale told CNBC TV18. 

12:32 Here are the key demands that Ashok Dhawale listed:

1. An extension of the loan waiver scheme which they had announce last year.
2. The implementation of the Forest Rights Act, which says that whatever land is cultivated by tribals to be vested in their names.
3. Pension for poor farmers and agriculture workers.
4. Immediate relief to farmers who lost nearly Rs 12,000 crore due to the pink ball worm attacks on Bt cottons in Marathwada and Vidarbha.
5. Oppose land acquisition programmes for schemes like Bullet trains.
6. Oppose major river linking projects which are creating problems.

12:22 "We will not leave Mumbai until our demands are satisfied," CPI(M) leader Ashok Dhawale told CNBC TV18. ​

12:21 The major demands include pension for poor farmers, increased compensation for hailstrom affected farmers, relief to Marathwada and Vidarbha farmers who are suffering due to pink worm in Bt cotton, CPI(M) leader Ashok Dhawale told CNBC TV18. 

11:29 "State is positive about demands of farmers. Over 95 percent of the protesters are tribals, so technically they are not farmers," Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra CM said in the State Assembly today, reports CNN News18. 

Fadnavis added that he will meet the farmers' representatives at 1 pm today.

11:05 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stated that it will provide 20 additional mobile toilets at Azad Maidan. Currently, 20 such toilets are installed. Furthermore, four water tankers will be put in place at the ground. Pay toilets near Azad Maidan and Mantralaya have been instructed to provide free services for two days, reports CNN News18. 

11:01 Attacking the government in relation to the Maharashtra farmers' protest, Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi said, "Not only in Maharashtra, farmers across India are suffering under BJP," reports CNN News18. 

10:52 A quick recap of the farmers' protest march: 

The “long march” was initiated by the Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha (ABKS), affiliated to the CPI (M). On Friday, the farmers reached Bhatsa river in Thane district where over 5,000 people from Palghar district joined the march.

Their demands include a transfer of forest land to tillers, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, and a compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre for farmers affected by the hailstorm and pink bollworm, and putting a stop to sharing the state’s water with Gujarat.

In other events, Maharashtra's congress workers hold banners in Mumbai to welcome protesting farmers that are expected to converge in the thousands on Monday.

10:33 The farmers walked at night to reach Azad maidan to avoid trouble to students 

"We do not want to put SSC students in any trouble. But we will reach Azad Maidan. Therefore, we have decided to start walking past midnight," AIKS President Com. Ashok Dhawale had tweeted.

10:21 Around 15,000 farmers are camping at Mumbai's Azad Maidan, gearing up for a massive protest outside the Maharashtra Assembly in a few hours to press for farm loan waivers and implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations.

10:17 All issues to be resolved says Girish Mahajan on Maharashtra farmers' protest

"We want this issue to be resolved. The government will look into the demand and government will fulfil demands. Officials have been called for the meeting tomorrow," Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Girish Mahajan had told CNN News18 on Sunday.

Prtoesting farmers in the thousands, led by the All India Kisan Sabha's protest march crossed Thane Mulund Check Naka on Sunday to reach Mumbai.

10:03 The All India Office bearers of AIKS including president Ashok Dhawale, Vice President, Amra Ram,  joint Secretaries Vijoo Krishnan, Jithendra Choudhury MP and  KK Ragesh MP and senior columnist P Sainath will join the struggle in front of Manthralaya at Mumbai today.

10:03 The main demands of the ongoing struggle includes comprehensive loan waiver, strict implementation of Forest Rights Act within stipulated time frame, implementation of M S Swaminathan Commission recommendations including minimum support price to all crops at 50 percent above cost of production, stop forced acquisition of agriculture land in the name of mega infrastructure projects to aid real estate business, ensure monthly pension to peasants and agriculture workers and  minimum wage and strict implementation of MNREGA.

09:48 The representatives of the Maharashtra farmers' protest led by All India Kishan Sabha (AIKS) will meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Devender Fadnavis at 11:30 am, reports CNN News18. The farmers will take a call after the meeting on whether to march towards the State Assembly or not.

09:41 While there is no likelihood of all farmers being allowed to proceed to the Assembly complex from Azad Maidan, a delegation of farmer leaders will be allowed to meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, reports PTI.

09:38 Last year, the state government had announced a farm loan waiver of Rs 34,000 crore, terming it the "biggest loan waiver in Maharashtra's history". State Governor Vidyasagar Rao told the state legislature that the government has transferred over Rs 12,000 crore into bank accounts of 31 lakh farmers until last month.

09:34 Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan, who welcomed the march at Mulund in suburban Mumbai yesterday, said the government, which has met earlier demands by farmers, will consider their latest ones.

09:30 Mumbai ground turns into sea of red as farmers converge for protest 

Azad Maidan in south Mumbai turned into a sea of red this morning as thousands of farmers, carrying red flags, converged here after walking around 180 kms under blazing sun over the last six days.

The farmers plan to surround the Assembly complex to press for their demands of an unconditional loan waiver, and transfer of forest land to tribal farmers who have been tilling it for years.

They reached Azad Maidan early today, after camping at KJ Somaiya Ground in Sion area. The CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha, which is spearheading the protest, said it will consider what the government has to offer. CPI(M) leader Ashok Dhawle said over 50,000 people have joined the protest.

"We will begin our rally after 11 am today so that students appearing for their Class 10 board exam don't face any difficulties," he said. Tribals from Thane district have joined the farmers from Nashik district in the protest.

09:21 Budget 2018 - what it means for Indian Agriculture

In line with our expectation and views, the budget focused on addressing the post-harvest issue to provide relief and bargaining power to the farmer, improve farm incomes and rejuvenate rural demand. Though a lot would depend on the implementation of the schemes, the current allocation indicate a boost to rural incomes which would ripple through to farm inputs and rural consumption.

Background

Despite an improvement in production, income in the hands of the farmers has remained substantially subdued over the past decades. The budget introduced several measure focused on improving the income and demand in rural India which we believe would benefit several companies.

Read the full report here. 

09:01 Here's why farmers are protesting: 

The march has been organised to protest the failures of the state BJP government on the farm front, including issues like farm loan waivers, remunerative prices for produce, non-implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission as well as the Forest Rights Act, he said.

Protesting farmers have demanded a change in the plan to link rivers in Nashik, Thane and Palghar to ensure that tribal lands are not submerged and water from the scheme be made available to these areas as well as other drought-prone districts, organisers said.

They said that farmers were also protesting against the state government's land acquisition for projects like high speed rail and super highways.

08:55 Maharashtra farmers, who have now reached Azad Maidan after walking overnight from KJ Somaiyya ground in Sion, are reportedly dehydrated from travelling in the scorching sun for 30 kilometres on Sunday in Mumbai. There is a medical dispensary set up at Azad Maidan. "Farmers were suffering from blood pressure and diarrhea," doctors told CNN-News18.

08:51 Opposition Congress, NCP, Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and AAP, as well as ruling ally Shiv Sena have extended support to the farmers' march.

Patidar leader from Gujarat Nikhil Sawani, who joined the march, said his community supported the protesters. As the march reached suburban Vikhroli, the phalanx of farmers — comprising both men and women — extended for almost three kilometres.

08:28 Senior Shiv Sena leder and cabinet minister Eknath Shinde and Yuva Sena (Shiv Sena's youth wing) chief Aditya Thackeray also greeted the protesters in suburban Vikhroli.

Thackeray said the Shiv Sena stood "shoulder to shoulder" with farmers in their struggle. It was wrong to say that farmers were demanding loan waiver, as they are not criminals that they should need a `waiver', Aditya said, adding "farmers are fighting for `freedom from debt'."

As so many farmers have marched to Mumbai despite the government's grand loan waiver, Sena leaders have demanded to see the list of actual beneficiaries of the scheme, he said.

08:21 JUST IN | Shiv Sena says they are not going to let the assembly function today until the farmers' demands are met, reports CNN News18.  

08:12 Senior BJP leader and Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar also assured that the chief minister will meet the protestors' delegation, and blamed the "apathetic" approach of past governments for the farmers' woes.

"Our government is committed to address all the grievances of farmers, which have accumulated due to the apathetic approach of the last several years...We are very sensitive towards farmers and two ministers (Tribal Development Minister Vishnu Savara and Mahajan) have already been asked to look into their demands," Mungantiwar told PTI.

08:11 From the government's side, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, who is also guardian minister for Nashik district, met farmers' leaders in Mulund as the march entered Mumbai, and assured that most of their demands will be met.

"The Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) has sent me to meet you. Most of your demands will be met. We will take a delegation to the chief minister," Mahajan said, addressing the protesters.

08:09 The government had reached out to farmers, promising to meet their demands, but farmers' leaders said they will press on with today's protest at the Vidhan Bhavan (Legislature Complex).

08:08 No govt can be insensitive to farmers' problems : RSS 

Farmers' problems should be understood sensitively and practical solutions found for them, the RSS said on Sunday.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) General Secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi said there was a need to change the agrarian policy and the government has to ensure that farmers get a proper price for their produce. However, he noted that there were a few obstacles in doing so.

Replying to a query on farmers' issues, he said their problems should be understood sensitively and practical solutions found for them. "No government can be insensitive on the questions related to farmers and it has to be sensitive towards farmers and find ways to address their problems. It is their job to think and find a solution," Joshi told reporters here at the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) of the RSS, the ruling BJP's ideological mentor.

His remarks assume significance as they come against the backdrop of thousands of farmers from various districts of Maharashtra marching towards Mumbai to protest outside the state assembly. Joshi said the farmers also need to change their mindset and while farming, they must keep government policies in mind.

08:04 The traffic will be normal like any other day. So far, no diversions are proposed on any road in limits of Mumbai for the proposed ‘Long March’, tweets Mumbai Police.

08:02 This govt can't do anything for you: Raj Thackeray 

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday came out in support of the farmers who have reached here after undertaking a 'Long March' to Mumbai from Nashik to press their various demands including full loan waiver.

"This government is incapable of doing anything," the MNS chief said, addressing thousands of farmers who rested at Somaiya Ground in Sion area after reaching the city this evening.

"I have come to greet you. You have come all the way in this heat. Give me the reins of power and I will show what can be done," the MNS chief said.

"Don't forget your bleeding feet. These people (the BJP-led Maharashtra government) have shown you dreams, but have not kept their word," Thackeray said.

"Don't fall prey to their promises. They value you only during elections. Farmer suicides haven't stopped in this state yet. Tomorrow the government will try to fob you off with some promises. But the government itself is pauper, so what can it offer you?" Thackeray said.

07:59 Apart from opposition parties, Shiv Sena, a partner in the ruling coalition, too has vocally supported the agitation, isolating the ruling BJP.

07:51 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will likely meet the protesting farmers at noon on Monday, reports CNN News18. Fadnavis on Sunday night had said his government will talk to the farmers who have undertaken a `Long March' to the city to press their various demands. The chief minister also appealed agitators not to hold up the traffic tomorrow so that students appearing for Std 10th exams in the city are not delayed.

07:47 "On Sunday, our number was over 35,000. Over 20,000 farmers from other parts of the state will join on Monday," Kisan Gujar, president of the state council of AIKS, said, adding that the farmers were also protesting against land acquisition for projects such as high-speed railway and super-highways.

07:46 The farmers, led by All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), are demanding, among other things, proper implementation of the Maharashtra government's loan waiver scheme. Braving scorching heat, they have covered around 180 km on foot in six days.

"We will gherao (lay siege to) the Vidhan Bhavan to demand a complete loan waiver, fair price for farm produce, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, compensation for hailstorm-affected farmers among other things," Kisan Gujar, president of the state council of AIKS, said.

07:44 Over 35,000 farmers from across Maharashtra, who embarked on a 'Long March' from Nashik on March 6 to press their various demands, will lay siege to the legislature today.