Mumbai is bracing for large-scale protest as thousands of farmers and tribal communities have begun a long march from Nashik towards the state capital,
demanding land rights and resolution of long-pending agrarian issues. The march, led by the CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), began on Sunday after an agitation outside the Dindori tehsil office in Nashik district. Protesters carrying red flags decided to march on foot to Mumbai after officials failed to provide assurances on their demands. The rally, under the leadership of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has continued for the past two days and entered Thane district on Tuesday. As the march reached Thane, it was joined by leaders and activists from the Thane–Palghar region, including MLA Vinod Nikole, Kiran Gahala, Radka Kalangada and Chandrakant Ghorkhana. The protest is steadily growing as it advances towards Mumbai, raising concerns of disruption in parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region in the coming days.
Delegation to Meet Chief Minister
Former MLA J P Gavit said a delegation comprising himself, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and AIKS national president Ashok Dhawale, Kisan Sabha national joint secretary Ajit Navale and MLA Vinod Nikole will hold discussions with the chief minister and other concerned ministers once the march reaches Mumbai. The delegation plans to press for concrete assurances from the state government on farmers’ demands.Gavit said tribal farmers from Peth, Surgana, Kalwan and Trimbakeshwar talukas are participating in the agitation to draw attention to unresolved issues related to land rights, irrigation facilities and forest claims. These regions are drought-prone, and farmers have been demanding the construction of large check dams on west-flowing rivers and their tributaries to ensure reliable irrigation for agriculture.
Key Demands of the Protesters
The protesters are seeking the regularisation of cultivation on encroached land up to four hectares, issuance of land ownership records, re-examination of rejected forest rights claims and procurement of agricultural produce from forest landholders at minimum support prices. According to the leaders, these issues have remained unresolved for years despite repeated representations.Mumbai has witnessed major protests in the recent past. In August last year, the city came to a standstill when thousands of protesters led by activist Manoj Jarange Patil gathered at Azad Maidan demanding the inclusion of the Maratha community in the Other Backward Classes. That agitation had severely affected vehicular movement, leading to widespread traffic snarls across the city.
With the farmers’ march now nearing Mumbai, authorities are closely monitoring the situation as the state capital prepares for another significant mobilisation.
