On Wednesday evening, Maharashtra Ministers Atul Save and Dada Bhuse travelled from Mumbai to Shahpur in the Thane district to have talks with the delegation of CPI(M) and All India Kisan Sabha about the demands of the farmers who are undertaking a "long march" from Nashik to Mumbai.
The farmers are protesting against various issues faced by them and others. MLA Jiva Pandu Gavit, Former Surgana CPI(M), said that as per the request of Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and Ekanath Shinde, the farmers will meet them on Thursday afternoon in Mumbai.
Gavit added that the meeting with the two ministers went well and they want the state government to take immediate steps to address the problems of the tribals and farmers.
Earlier, Save and Bhuse turned down the CM and Deputy CM's request to hold a dialogue with a farmer's delegation at Mantralaya, but later they came to Shahapur to hold discussions with the delegations of the protestors.
The farmers had refused to travel to Mumbai earlier due to the suspension of discussions by Fadnavis and Shinde on Tuesday. The farmers will take a halt at Kalamb village in Thane district on Thursday before heading for Mumbai to protest outside Vidhan Bhawan during the current budget session.
Why are the farmers protesting?
A massive gathering of around 10,000 farmers and tribals from Maharashtra's Nashik district are protesting by marching toward Mumbai. Their objective is to bring attention to a multitude of demands, such as the plummeting prices of essential commodities like onions, soybeans, cotton, and arhar.
The farmers are also seeking immediate aid to counter the crop damage caused by unseasonal rains. In addition, they are urging the government to execute the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for state government employees who joined after 2005. Aerial footage from a drone indicates the protestors advancing towards Mumbai from Kasara Ghat, encircled by mountains.
