The protesters claimed they had been living in the area for generations and criticised the administration for demolishing their dwellings on Monday. The agitation was held outside Shinde’s residence late at night
Eknath Shinde. File Pic
Several tribals from areas falling within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park staged a protest outside the residence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Thane city against the demolition of their hamlets, reported news agency PTI.
The protesters claimed they had been living in the area for generations and criticised the administration for demolishing their dwellings on Monday. The agitation was held outside Shinde’s residence late at night, reported PTI.
Vivek Pandit, chairperson of the state tribal development committee, told reporters that no demolition should be carried out until the 2018 rehabilitation plan is implemented and the affected families are properly resettled, reported PTI.
The protest was later called off after authorities assured the tribals of a discussion on the rehabilitation plan, an office-bearer of the social organisation that led the agitation said.
Farmers launch foot march from Nashik to Mumbai to press for their demands
Meanwhile, thousands of farmers and labourers launched a foot march to Mumbai from Nashik on Sunday to press for their various demands, including land rights, irrigation facilities and uninterrupted power supply, reported PTI.
Led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha, the protesters, carrying red flags, accused the government of not keeping its promises and threatened to gherao Mantralaya, the state secretariat, in Mumbai, if their issues are not resolved, reported PTI.
CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and All India Kisan Sabha national president Ashok Dhawle, and CITU national vice president DL Karad are among those taking part in march, reported PTI.
Implementation of the Forest Rights Act, land rights under PESA (Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act), execution of irrigation schemes, minimum support price for soybean and maize are among their issues.
Earlier, a similar "long march" was undertaken in Palghar district, and it ended after the administration agreed to many of their demands, said Kisan Sabha national joint secretary Ajit Navale. "After the Thane and Palghar, we have now embarked on a long march to Mumbai (about 200 km away) from Nashik," he said, reported PTI.
Navale said farmers had launched similar protests in 2015 and 2019, when Devendra Fadnavis was the chief minister, and in 2023 during the tenure of the then CM Eknath Shinde. "The government gives assurances during such agitations, but does not fulfil them," he alleged, reported PTI.
Former MLA J P Gavit said the agitators are ready with ration and determined to reach Mumbai, reported PTI.
"We will gherao Mantralaya and will not budge till our demands are met," he said, adding that more farmers will join them on their way.
Due to the march, traffic in several parts of Nashik came to a standstill for a long time.
(With inputs from PTI)
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