Thousands of farmers from 21 districts of Maharashtra gathered at Nashik on Saturday. They are marching to cover the 180 kilometres to state capital Mumbai. The farmers who are protesting against the new agricultural laws will hold a massive rally Monday at the city’s iconic Azad Maidan. They are expected to be joined by NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
The farmers taking part in the vehicle rally will converge at Azad Maidan and begin a three-day sit-in. On January 25, a massive rally will be taken to Raj Bhavan. They will submit a memo to the Governor. On January 26, there will be a Republic Day flag hoisting at Azad Maidan.
The January 25 rally will be attended by farmer organisations. The leaders of all three parties in the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi. NCP national president Sharad Pawar, Congress state president and state revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat, Shiv Sena leader and state Environment and Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray, and leaders of the Left and democratic parties, will address the meeting.
The Nashik farmers’ march comes two days before a headline-grabbing tractor rally in Delhi on Republic Day. Over a thousand tractors are expected to take part in the rally. The Delhi police has granted permission to the farmers to hold the rally close to border.
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