How Mumbaikars supported protesting farmers, distributed water, dates, biscuits

  • IndiaToday.in
  • Delhi
  • March 12, 2018
  • UPDATED 09:48 IST
A kid distributing biscuits near Vikhroli, Mumbai to farmers marching in protest
A kid distributing biscuits near Vikhroli, Mumbai to farmers marching in protest. Photo: Facebook\ramakumar.ram.7

Often, farmers do not get attention and consideration they deserve. But lately, we have seen how farmers from different parts of the country ensured, with their unique ways of protests, that they are heard and seen by the rest of the citizens and the governments in power.

The Kisan Long March that began on March 6 from Nashik is one such protest movement. Farmers in Maharashtra decided to walk all the way from Nashik to the Mumbai. Thousands of farmers, led by the All India Kisan Sabha.

Over 30,000 farmers reached Mumbai's Sion yesterday late night and by 5 AM this morning, they reached their final destination - Azan Maidan.

The protest march was organised by the farmers to demand a complete waiver of loans and electricity bills. They also demand Minimum Support Prices to be fixed as per Swaminathan Commission recommendations - according to which they should be paid one-and-a-half times the cost of production.

A crucial meeting is scheduled at 9 AM (now shifted to 2 PM as per reports) today where the farmers will put forward their demands ahead of a high-profile six-membered committee of Maharashtra ministers.

MUMBAIKARS TO THE AID OF PROTESTING FARMERS

Touching the hearts of many social media users, other than the photos of the bleeding legs of farmers and videos of senior citizens and women marching from Nashik to Mumbai, have been posts about Mumbaikars extending their support to the protesting farmers.


In different posts, both on Facebook and Twitter, social media users have been telling the world how Mumbaikars, regardless of religion, waited for the marching farmers to provide them with water, dates and biscuit packets.

Sample these -






Moved by the warm welcome and support they received from Mumbaikars, and being considerate of the fact that many students in the city have their board exams today, the farmers decided to propone their march from Sion to Azad Maidan and walked to their destination during the dead of the night.

The verified account of the All India Kisan Sabha tweeted saying, "Kisan Long March will march at midnight from Sion to Azad Maidan. This is to avoid inconvenience to the students attending board exams tomorrow."

Another tweet quoted AIKS President Comrade Ashok Dhawale as saying, "We do not want to put SSC students in any trouble. But we will reach Azad Maidan. Therefore, we have decided to start walking past midnight."





Will the demands raised by the farmers be met by the Maharashtra government? We will know by evening.

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