The mega protest by 25,000farmers, all members of the CPI-M's All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) , the country's largest organisation representing farmers and labourers, ended in success after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday evening accepted most of their demands. 'We have accepted most of their demands and have given them a written letter,' said Fadnavis. The protesters had reached Mumbai on foot after a 180-km-long journey from Nashik. All Pics-Atul Kamble/Bipin Kokate/Pradeep Dhivar

The farmers demands included a slew of measures, such as the complete waiver of loans, fair wages for their agricultural products, compensation for crops destroyed by the pink bollworm, and immediate implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations

While a majority of the protesters hailed from Nashik, Talasari, Pune, Nagpur, Ahmednagar, farmers from the drought-afflicted Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Amravati had also joined the movement

The protesting farmers were supported by scores of Mumbaikars who had turned up to welcome them with refreshments at Mulund, Vikhroli and Ghatkopar

While the initial plan of the protesters had been to leave the Somaiya ground on Monday morning and head to South Mumbai, the leaders later decided to start their onwards march in the night with consideration for exam-stressed SSC students who had exams on Monday

'Our bodies hurt, and many of us have been fainting along the way, but we won't stop walking,' Bansu Waghmare, 40, a farmer from Nashik's Surana taluka had said

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray had out in support of the farmers. 'This government is incapable of doing anything,' the MNS chief said, addressing thousands of farmers who rested at Somaiya Ground in Sion. 'I have come to greet you. You have come all the way in this heat. Give me the reins of power and I will show what can be done,' he had said

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray had out in support of the farmers. 'This government is incapable of doing anything,' the MNS chief said, addressing thousands of farmers who rested at Somaiya Ground in Sion. 'I have come to greet you. You have come all the way in this heat. Give me the reins of power and I will show what can be done,' he had said

The state government appointed a six members committee to look into the farmers' demands. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting held at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' residence

The state government appointed a six members committee to look into the farmers' demands. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting held at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' residence

The committee comprised of Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Patil, Agriculture Minister Pandurang Fundkar, Irrigation Minister Girish Mahajan, Tribal Development Minister Vishnu Savara, state cooperatives minister Subhash Deshmukh and Shiv Sena leader and PWD Minister Eknath Shinde

The committee comprised of Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Patil, Agriculture Minister Pandurang Fundkar, Irrigation Minister Girish Mahajan, Tribal Development Minister Vishnu Savara, state cooperatives minister Subhash Deshmukh and Shiv Sena leader and PWD Minister Eknath Shinde

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced a Rs 34,022 crore farm loan waiver, which was initially estimated to help 89 lakh farmers. However, the number of eligible beneficiaries got revised to 56 lakh after an online application system coupled with biometric verification using Aadhaar numbers weeded out more than 30 lakh accounts from the list of probable beneficiaries

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced a Rs 34,022 crore farm loan waiver, which was initially estimated to help 89 lakh farmers. However, the number of eligible beneficiaries got revised to 56 lakh after an online application system coupled with biometric verification using Aadhaar numbers weeded out more than 30 lakh accounts from the list of probable beneficiaries

The Maharashtra Government had directed all its machinery to be positive and sympathetic towards protesters. The protest had commenced on March 5 from the CBS Chowk in Central Nashik

The Maharashtra Government had directed all its machinery to be positive and sympathetic towards protesters. The protest had commenced on March 5 from the CBS Chowk in Central Nashik

Many of the marchers, braving the early summer heat, reached Mumbai with red and swollen eyes, broken or temporarily mended footwear, dusty, torn clothes, having barely managed a square meal or a proper bath during the week

Many of the marchers, braving the early summer heat, reached Mumbai with red and swollen eyes, broken or temporarily mended footwear, dusty, torn clothes, having barely managed a square meal or a proper bath during the week

Amitesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) on Monday confirmed that no roads were closed due to the protest march by the All India Kisan Sabha's farmers

Amitesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) on Monday confirmed that no roads were closed due to the protest march by the All India Kisan Sabha's farmers

The farmers had planned to surround the Assembly complex to press for their demands of an unconditional loan waiver, and transfer of forest land to tribal farmers who have been tilling it for years

The farmers had planned to surround the Assembly complex to press for their demands of an unconditional loan waiver, and transfer of forest land to tribal farmers who have been tilling it for years

The farmers had reached Azad Maidan early on Monday morning, after camping at KJ Somaiya Ground in Sion area the previous night. Azad Maidan in south Mumbai had turned into a sea of red on Monday morning as thousands of farmers, carrying red flags, converged there

The farmers had reached Azad Maidan early on Monday morning, after camping at KJ Somaiya Ground in Sion area the previous night. Azad Maidan in south Mumbai had turned into a sea of red on Monday morning as thousands of farmers, carrying red flags, converged there

Health checks and first aid was arranged for the protesting farmers. The 25,000 protesters were fatigued after their 180 kilametres-long journey

Health checks and first aid was arranged for the protesting farmers. The 25,000 protesters were fatigued after their 180 kilametres-long journey

The CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha, which spearheaded the farmers' protest, had stated that it would consider what the government had to offer

The CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha, which spearheaded the farmers' protest, had stated that it would consider what the government had to offer

Farmers leader Ajit Nawalehad commented, 'Considering the tremendous response we have evoked from across the state, the government cannot dismiss us lightly. If it continues to dilly-dally on the farm loans waiver or try to take us for a ride, it will face the consequences.'

Farmers leader Ajit Nawalehad commented, 'Considering the tremendous response we have evoked from across the state, the government cannot dismiss us lightly. If it continues to dilly-dally on the farm loans waiver or try to take us for a ride, it will face the consequences.'

The MS Swaminathan Commission report says farmers should be paid one-and-a-half times the cost of production and the Minimum Support Price should be fixed keeping this in mind

The MS Swaminathan Commission report says farmers should be paid one-and-a-half times the cost of production and the Minimum Support Price should be fixed keeping this in mind

'We will talk to them and sort out their issues. The Government is positive on their demands. Most of the agitators are tribals, and their main demand is forest land rights. We have set up a committee of ministers to hold discussions on their demands. I have invited them (farmer leaders) for talks,' Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had stated before reaching a final settlement

'We will talk to them and sort out their issues. The Government is positive on their demands. Most of the agitators are tribals, and their main demand is forest land rights. We have set up a committee of ministers to hold discussions on their demands. I have invited them (farmer leaders) for talks,' Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had stated before reaching a final settlement