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50,000 farmers reach Mumbai for debt waiver

MUMBAI: After walking with blistered feet for about 180 km in the blazing sun over the last five days, between 35,000 and 50,000 farmers from Maharashtra's Nashik district have entered the capital city. They camped at the Thane-Mumbai border on Sunday morning before heading for the KJ Somaiya Ground in Sion. The traffic police say they are prepared and have also issued a traffic advisory to avoid jams in the city. Elaborate security arrangements are also in place, police said.
The farmer contingent, including tribal cultivators, led by the Left-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), plans to gherao the Vidhan Sabha Monday to press their demands. The adivasis, who have joined the movement in huge numbers, say it is a matter of life and death.
Ashok Dhawle, president of the AIKS, said they met Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan on Sunday who had assured them that he would take their demands to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray met with the farmers on Sunday.
Some of the demands of the farmers include a complete farm loan waiver, transfer of forest land to tillers, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre to farmers hit by hailstorm and pink bollworm, and putting a stop to sharing the state's water with Gujarat.
Apart from middle-aged farmers and youngsters, a large number of women and senior citizens are part of the march.
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