5,000 farmers from Maharashtra to join Delhi protests on Christmas Eve

The protests by farmers against the central governments new farm laws at Delhis borders are set to gain strength with about 5000 of their counterparts from over 20 districts of Maharashtra planning to join them and pledge support to the ongoing agitation They will assemble at Nashiks Golf Club on December 21 and kick off a 1200 kmlong Vehicular March or Vehicle Jattha to DelhiAIKS leaders announced their march to Delhi at a press meet in Nashik on FridayOrganised under the leadership of the All India Kisan Sabhas AIKS Maharashtra unit the farmers are scheduled to join the ongoing protest at the RajasthanHaryana border in Shahjahanpur on the eve of Christmas December 24 The march will start after a public meeting at Nashik to be held by the AIKS on December 21 followed by a demonstration at the Reliance Petrol Pump after leavingMain demandsThousands of people from Ozar Pimpalgaon Baswant Chandwad Umrane Malegaon Dhule and Shirpur in Nashik and Dhule districts will join the march before entering Madhya Pradesh said AIKS leaders at a press conference on Friday where the decision was announced by AIKS National President Dr Ashok Dhawale former State President J P Gavit exMLA State General Secretary Dr Ajit Nawale State Joint Secretary Sunil Malusare and CITU State President Dr D L KaradThe leaders further said The farmers have three main demands ndash repeal the three antifarmer and procorporate farm laws withdraw the Electricity Amendment Bill and ensure legal measures to provide MSP at oneandahalf times the cost of production and procurement at MSP ratesSpeaking to midday AIKS National President Dr Dhawale said that there were two reasons behind the decision to conduct the march ndash to prove to the central government that it was a nationwide movement and not one in which farmers from only a few states were taking part and to further intensify the protestsVehicular marchWe want to counter the government propaganda that this is just a struggle of Punjab and Haryana It will be a slap on their central governments face when thousands of farmers from across Maharashtra will join the ongoing agitation at the borders At least 5000 farmers are expected to join from Nashik We will be travelling in cars trucks and tempos There wont be any tractors and trolleys because then it will take a long time to complete the journeyAIKS State General Secretary Dr Ajit Nawale said Despite the overwhelming support from other states across the country during the nationwide protests on December 3 and the Bharat Bandh on December 8 farmers from farflung states have not yet been able to directly participate in the Delhi protests Despite being far away from Delhi Maharashtra is becoming the first state to reach the national capital in thousandsHe further said As the Modi government is bringing in agricultural laws for the benefit of corporates the battle is against the central government and its corporate partners which is why there will be a strong protest at the Reliance Petrol Pump in Nashik before the convoy leaves for Delhi The Kisan Sabha is appealing to all the farmers of Maharashtra to join the Delhi Chalo movementKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest news