Maharashtra Farmers' protest: Mumbaikars welcome farmers with open arms

Farmers protest march passes through EEH on Sunday night PicsPradeep Dhivar Sayyed Sameer AbediAs the protesting farmers entered Mumbai in the scorching heat scores of Mumbaikars turned up to welcome them with refreshments at Mulund Vikhroli and Ghatkopar By afternoon the tired farmers made their way to the KJ Somaiya ground where authorities requested them to terminate their march instead of walking to Vidhan Bhavan citing SSC board exams as a reason The protesters showed consideration towards the students and agreed to march on Sunday night instead of the next morningThe compromise came after the government showed readiness to negotiate with them It sent an emissary to speak to the march leaders last afternoon before the farmers reached their night halt venue mdash KJ Somaiya ground Medical education minister Girish Mahajan invited a delegation of the long march leaders after their six days of walking in the scorching heat at Vikhroli police station to discuss their problems and also extended an invitation for a talk with Chief Minister Devendra FadnavisThe 180km long march from Nashik to Mantralaya was started by the All India Kisan Sabha AIKS it reached Mumbais eastern suburbs yesterday The farmers are upset with the government for not giving them a complete loan waiver besides several other issuesOnfoot actionAccording to the Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha ABKS 30000 farmers are already part of the protest and have marched to Mantralaya Their demands include a complete loan waiver implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations which gives a fair price for farm produce change in the riverlinking scheme proposed to be implemented in Nashik Thane and Palghar so that tribal areas dont get submerged and the government paying their electricity billsMahajan said The government was ready to discuss their demands But the leaders told the minister that the government must assure them in writing that all demands would be met or they would lay siege to Vidhan Bhavan from MondayWhile the initial plan was of leaving Somaiya ground on Monday morning and head to South Mumbai the leaders decided to start at night for the sake of examstressed students AIKS president Ashok Dhawale speaking to midday late on Sunday said We will try to reach Azad Maidan in the morning so that students appearing for their board exams are not disturbed A delegation will be meeting the CM tomorrow Monday to put forth our demandsAfter summoning Agriculture Minister Pandurang Phundkar from Akola Fadnavis held a meeting of bureaucrats last evening He has set up a committee of six ministers mdash Phundkar Chandrakant Patil Girish Mahajan Eknath Shinde Subhash Deshmukh and Vishnu Savra mdash to discuss demands with the protesting farmersAlso readLive Updates Mumbai Farmers Protest Devendra Fadnavis Positive Towards DemandsPolitical playMeanwhile Opposition parties did not leave the opportunity to score some political mileage by showing support to the march After NCP declared its support to the protest the Congress too jumped in the fray with Ashok Chavan tweeting support to the farmers and taking a dig at the CM saying he should stop being adamant and fulfil all their demandsMNS chief Raj Thackeray said he would welcome the farmers at Azad Maidan after Yuva Sena president Aaditya Thackeray went to meet the protesting leaders last afternoonAlso readMaharashtra Farmers Protest Citizens come out with food water and moral supportToday Traffic mvmt will be normal like any other day Tr R no diversions proposed on any road in limits of Mumbai 4 the proposed lsquoLong Marchrsquo We will be posting updates as and when required Donrsquot believe in rumours Contact MumbaiPolice amp Dial 100 for any such verificationmdash Mumbai Police MumbaiPolice March 11 2018Inputs from Dharmendra Jore and Pallavi Smart