Rural and urban Maharashtra all witness the strength of the farmers’ movement

Over 1000 farmers participating in a Vehicle Jatha from Maharashtra entered Madhya Pradesh on December 23, 2020 following a rousing send-off from Nashik district, said All India Kisan Sabha President Ashok Dhawale.

The Vehicle Jatha including around 60 vehicles will traverse to Delhi after visiting various districts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan on the way. The jatha was recently joined by another group of protesters led by Nation Alliance of People’s Movement (NAPM) leader Medha Patkar at the Sendhwa check point.

“We will stop at Kota Rajasthan today. On December 24, we will head towards the Shahjahanpur border where many protesters from Maharashtra and other areas are already protesting against the central government,” said Dhawale.

The procession started on December 21 under the leadership of Dhawale and other AIKS leaders such as Former State President J P Gavit, State General Secretary Dr Ajit Nawale, State Joint Secretary Sunil Malusare.

The Jatha of cars, tempos and even buses was enthusiastically greeted on the way by hundreds of people at Ozar, Pimpalgaon Baswant and Shirwade villages in Nashik district before camping at Chandwad in the same area.

On December 22, protesters received a grand all-Party (minus BJP) people’s reception at Malegaon and Dhule, before camping at Shirpur on the Maharashtra border.

Meanwhile, farmers observed a dharna outside the Collector’s office in Bandra (East), Mumbai.

According to the Times of India on December 23, Minister of State for Water Resources and Education Bachchu Kadu was to join the protest however he was detained by the Nagpur police before his flight to Mumbai. While the Nagpur police said they followed instructions given by the State Police Chief, State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh intervened to release Kadu.

Regardless of such attempts, farmers across India continue to oppose the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance & Farm Services Act, the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.