Mumbai: Farmers reach Azad Maidan from Nashik for a ‘joint protest’ against farm laws

Acting on the Samyukta Kisan Morcharsquos SKM nationwide call for a protest between January 23 and 26 approximately 15000 farmers from across 21 districts in Maharashtra under the banner of the All India Kisan Sabha AIKS had undertaken a vehicular lsquojatharsquo march from Nashik to Mumbai They left on Saturday and reached Azad Maidan on Sunday evening where they were greeted by numerous other civil rights and workersrsquo groupsmdashall of whom will take part in a threeday protest against the recently passed farm bills and labour lawsFarmers reach ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharajTerminus to join protest against farmlaws at AzadMaidan pictwittercom306f1a33F6mdash Mid Day mid_day January 24 2021After leaving from Nashik the vehicle march halted at Ghatandevi near Igatpuri for the night where the farmers slept on the ground near a temple Around 9 am on Sunday thousands of farmers including women from the All India Democratic Womenrsquos Association AIDWA as well as numerous student organisations assembled at Ghatandevi and marched down the 7 km stretch of Kasara Ghat after which they resumed their march towards Azad MaidanlsquoTo support farmersrsquoSpeaking to midday AIKS president Dr Ashok Dhawale who is leading the Kasara Ghat march said ldquoThis march is being held to support and expand the historic two monthlong farmers struggle in Delhi for the repeal of the three farm laws and for a central law to guarantee a remunerative MSP and procurement all over the country It is a joint struggle from today since the farmers of the AIKS who constitute the largest contingent will be joined by numerous social organisations and workers groups in Mumbai to take part in the struggle against the Centrersquos agricultural legislation which will completely destroy the common farmerrsquos livelihoodMembers of the Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha will also join the protest at Azad MaidanThe threeday protest at Azad Maidan has been organised by over a hundred organisations affiliated to the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee AIKSCC Trade Unions Joint Action Committee Struggle Committee of Mass Movements Nation for Farmers and Hum Bharat Ke Log All of them formed the Samyukta Shetkari Kamgar Morcha SSKM MaharashtraOn Monday a public meeting will be addressed by top leaders in the Maha Vikas Aghadi including Sharad Pawar Balasaheb Thorat Aaditya Thackeray and AIKS national general secretary Hannan Mollah and other leaders On Tuesday ie Republic Day an almost 50000 strong rally will march to Raj Bhavan to submit a memorandum to the Governormdasha practice being undertaken by protesting farmers across the country The agitation will conclude on January 26 Republic Day with the hoisting of the national flag the singing of the national anthem and a ldquopledge to make the current struggle of farmers and workers victorious at all costsrdquoFarmers from Nashik arrive in Mumbai PicShadab KhanThe demands of the SSKM are ldquoRepeal the three Farm laws enact a central law guaranteeing remunerative MSP and procurement withdraw the Electricity Amendment Bill Repeal the four labour codes vest all forest lands temple lands pasture lands etc in the names of the tillers and resume the implementation of the Mahatma Phule Loan Waiver Scheme for farmers which had been suspended due to the COVID pandemicrdquoFarmers labourers to be affectedFeroz Mithiborwala a member of Hum Bharat Ke Log said Farmers and workers have been coordinating as early as September because both the labour laws and farm laws will adversely affect their livelihood the first will weaken the working class while the other bills are simply outrageousrdquoFarmers on way to Azad MaidanHe further said that there was a bit of a ldquovictoryrdquo since permission had been granted for tractors to march into Delhi on Republic Day ldquoThis tractor march is a show of strength by the farmers that says they cannot be bypassed so easilyhellipwhich is why on Republic Day we are taking back our country from the AdaniAmbaniModi government This is one of the strongest battles against crony capitalism on the world stage and the people of India cannot afford to lose it he addedSupport from Bombay Catholic SabhaThe Bombay Catholic Sabharsquos Vikhroli Unit in association with all units in Mumbai in solidarity with the farmers and Father Stan Swamy as well as other social activists who are in prison will hold placards and banners on Republic Day between 915 am and 11 am at Vikhroli East Eastern Express Highway said BCS Vikhroli Chairman Mario Rodrigues