Mumbai: Farmers march to Azad Maidan for loan waiver; traffic hit

TIL Desk/National/Mumbai/ Thousands of farmers from Maharashtra have started their protest march from Chunnabhati to Azad Maidan in Mumbai to press for their demands, which include compensation for drought and the transfer of forest rights to tribals.

Magsaysay award winner Dr Rajendra Singh, also known as Waterman of India, is among the marchers. They started walking on Wednesday afternoon from Thane and halted at the Somaiyya Ground in the night. The farmers are scheduled to meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis later in the evening.  Traffic from Chembur to Dadar on Eastern Express highway has been hit during the protest march.

All bridges and several parts of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar road have been blocked for the protest. This is the third mass protest of farmers in Maharashtra within a year. Earlier in March this year, around 25,000 farmers under the banner of the All India Kisan Sabha carried out a protest march, demanding a complete farm loan waiver.  In July, dairy farmers too protested, seeking a hike in milk prices.