Mumbai on tenterhooks as 12,000 farmers reach doorstep
HIGHLIGHTS
- The farmers on Monday will troop into south Mumbai and gherao the Vidhan Bhavan
- The farmers are demanding a complete loan waiver, remunerative prices for agricultural produce and implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations among others
Unmindful of the scorching heat, nearly 12,000 farmers walked 180km over more than four days and landed at Mumbai’s doorstep, Thane, on Saturday evening. On Sunday, they plan to march into Mumbai, where an equal number of farmers is expected to join in. The farmers on Monday will troop into south Mumbai and gherao the Vidhan Bhavan to demand a complete loan waiver, remunerative prices for agricultural produce and implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations among others. The budget session is underway at the state legislature.
While the city police have made elaborate security and traffic arrangements for Sunday as well as Monday, citizens could experience some inconvenience along the morcha route, especially since HSC, SSC, CBSE (Class X as well as XII), ICSE and ISC exams are underway. “There are currently no instructions but students must take care to leave earlier than usual depending on the situation on Monday morning,” said Subhash Borse, in-charge secretary of the state board’s Mumbai division.
The morcha caused massive snarls on roads connecting Thane and Mumbai to Nashik on Saturday. Several vehicles, including an ambulance, were stuck in snarls for many hours.
The organisers claimed that by Saturday night, the number of protestors had swollen to 34,000. The police however maintained that the number was 12,000. For Saturday night, the protesters camped at the octroi naka yard near Mulund toll naka. While the police said the protestors, after marching into Mumbai on Sunday, will stay at Somaiyya Grounds for the night, the organizers said they could stay at Vikhroli.
Ajit Nawale of the
All India Kisan Sabha(AIKS), which is leading the rally, said thousands of farmers accompanied by their wives and parents have joined the cause. “Why would they suffer such a long and winding journey on foot, if their causes weren’t genuine,” he questioned, pointing towards the ‘red wave’ following him on the busy Nashik highway on Saturday afternoon. He said they were all here to present their charter of demands to the government.
Mumbai on tenterhooks as 12,000 farmers reach doorstep - Times of India