Lok Sangharsh Morcha which had led the farmer's protests at Azad Maidan, Mumbai on Thursday has called off the protest after getting written assurances on their demands from the state government.
A delegation of farmers met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis earlier in the day to reiterate their demands for loan waiver and land rights.
Apart from demanding loan waiver, the farmers are also urging the government for implementing the recommendations of the MS Swaminathan Commission fo 50 per cent more than the cost of their crops, minimum support price and setting up of a judicial system to ensure its implementation, complete farm loan waiver and drought compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre for non-irrigated land and Rs 1 lakh per acre for irrigated land.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has assured the farmers that their forest land rights claims will be settled by December this year.
Thousands of farmers and tribals had arrived at the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in Mumbai to protest various agrarian issues plaguing the state. About 7,000 farmers, led by the Lok Sangharsh Morcha, commenced their march from Mulund Octroi Naka on Wednesday morning. Several political parties have lent their support to the protest, including Janata Dal (Secular), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Shiv Sena. Water conservationist Dr Rajendra Singh and MP Raju Shetty have also come out in support.
The farmers, struggling to cope with the agrarian crisis, are demanding proper implementation of the loan waiver package announced by the BJP-led government in the state last year, land rights for farmers and compensation for farm labourers.
This is the second time in eight months that the farmers have marched to Mumbai demanding their rights. More than 35,000 farmers from across Maharashtra, led by Left-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), took out a march’ from Nashik to Mumbai on March 12 to press for their demands.
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