Mumbai farmer protest live updates: India's financial capital turns into sea of red

Over 20,000 protesting farmers have reached India's financial capital. The farmers plan to gherao Maharashtra State Assembly and press for their demands. The state government has decided to appoint a six members committee to look into the farmers demands which includes a complete waiver of loans and power dues and implementation of the Ms Swaminathan Committee report.

Track live updates here:

* Sitaram Yechury is scheduled to address the farmers at Azad Maidan at 2 pm.

* Congress President Rahul Gandhi says farmers across India facing various issues

* High security around Assembly: Number of security personnel guarding Maharashtra State Assembly have been increased in view of farmers' agitation to avoid any untoward incident

'Hasn't Maharashtra announced a loan waiver last year?'
Yes. Last year, the Maharashtra government had announced a loan waiver of Rs 4,000 crore under the first phase of the farm loan waiver scheme.

'No traffic divers ion yet '
Amitesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) on Monday said that no road would be closed due to the protest march by the All India Kisan Sabha's farmers. Kumar said, "No road closure or diversions will happen due to Farmers' Morcha now".

* Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has came out in support of the farmers who have reached here after undertaking a 'Long March' to Mumbai from Nashik to press their various demands including full loan waiver.

* Azad Maidan in south Mumbai has turned into a sea of red this morning as thousands of farmers, carrying red flags, converged here after walking around 180 kms under blazing sun over the last six days.


Latest visuals from Azad Maidan:



Maharashtra government to form six-member committee to look into farmers' demands

In the light of the ongoing farmers protest in Maharashtra, the state government has decided to appoint a six members committee to look into the farmers demands.

Farmers reach Mumbai, plan to gherao Assembly today

One of the biggest morchas to have been undertaken by farmers has entered Mumbai on Sunday. A morcha of 20,000 to 25,000 farmers plan to gherao Maharashtra Assembly and press for their demands.

(With Agency inputs)