Farmers across India have been protesting the center’s farm laws since late November.
Mumbai:
Thousands of farmers from 21 districts of Maharashtra, among tens of thousands across India protesting against the agricultural laws of the center, gathered in Nashik on Saturday and began a march to cover the 180 kilometers to the state capital, Mumbai.
The dramatic images showed a sea of farmers, many of whom waved flags and carried banners, winding along the roads of the Kasara Ghat region between the two cities.
The farmers, who come from several smaller unions and have gathered under the All India Kisan Sabha banner, are expected to arrive in Mumbai in a few hours, where they will take part in a demonstration at the famous Azad Maidan on Monday.
The head of the CPN, Sharad Pawar, whose party is part of the ruling government Maha Vikas Aghadi, is expected to attend the rally.
Less than two weeks ago, Pawar referred to protesting farmers, particularly those who have braved the cold winters to stay camped around Delhi since November, and warned the center of the “consequences” if he did not understand their feelings. .
Last month it issued a similar warning, saying the center should not test farmers’ patience.
The Nashik Farmers’ March comes two days before a tractor rally that makes headlines on Republic Day.
Over a thousand tractors are expected to take part in the rally along Ring Road (which surrounds the city), and permission has been sought from the Delhi police.
On Saturday, the farmers said they had received permission, but the police quickly contradicted it; Commissioner SN Shrivastava told NDTV that police had not yet received written confirmation of the route.
A decision is expected tonight.
The center, which has had 11 failed negotiations with farmers, is against the rally; told the Supreme Court that the event would be “an embarrassment to the nation.”
A request to the court to stop the demonstration was rejected and the decision was left to the police.
The court had previously upheld the farmers’ right to hold a peaceful protest.
The protesting farmers rejected a proposal to suspend the laws for 18 months.
They continue to insist, as they have since their protests began 60 days ago, that the three laws be repealed and that the center provide legal guarantees for the MSP (minimum support price).
The center, which also insists the laws will benefit farmers, has said it will only offer written guarantees for MSP and that the laws will be upheld, though it is open to amendment.
Last week, the Supreme Court suspended the implementation of the farm laws and established a committee of experts to resolve the long-standing dispute.
With input from PTI
.
