MUMBAI, JUL 22 - Thousands of farmers under the banner of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) staged a state-level rally at Azad Maidan here to press for various agricultural demands, including crop insurance, land rights, and loan subsidies.
Following the protest on Tuesday, an AIKS delegation held talks with Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatreya Bharne and Revenue Minister Chandrakant Bavanakule at the Mantralaya.
AIKS State Secretary Dr. Ajit Nawale termed the discussions regarding provisions for regular loan defaulters and land rights on Devasthan, Gairan, and house premises lands as "positive."
The primary demands raised in the memorandum included an increase in incentive subsidies for regular loan defaulters, the transfer of land ownership to farmers and labourers, the restoration of crop insurance triggers to previous levels, and immediate compensation for crop damage caused by heavy rains. The farmers also demanded a halt to the termination of PESA employees.
The rally was led by AIKS national president Dr. Ashok Dhawale, former MLA J.P. Gavit, State president Umesh Deshmukh, and MLA Vinod Nikole. Eminent journalist and PARI founder P. Sainath also addressed the gathering.
During the event, the farmers' delegation also passed a resolution expressing solidarity with the ongoing student-youth movement in Delhi, strongly condemning the actions taken by the Union government against the agitators. PTI