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Kisan Long March: Protesting farmers guided by ‘urban Maoists,’ says BJP MP Poonam Mahajan

As thousands of farmers carrying red flags marched to Mumbai with a list of demands, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Poonam Mahajan claimed that the 'Kisan Long March' was propelled by urban Maoists.

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As thousands of farmers carrying red flags marched to Mumbai with a list of demands, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Poonam Mahajan claimed that the 'Kisan Long March' was propelled by urban Maoists.

Over 30,000 farmers and tribals have marched from Nashik to Mumbai to draw the BJP government's attention towards their problems.

Speaking to a TV channel, Mahajan alleged that Maoists were misguiding the farmers who have travelled 180 km on foot to Mumbai to press for their demands. 

 

“Tribals in Maharashtra have been captured by urban Maoism,” Mahajan said, according to News18.

"They (farmers) are holding the flag of Communists, and urban Maoists are misguiding them," she added. 

Mahajan represents Mumbai North Central in the Lok Sabha and also heads Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the BJP's youth wing. 

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government said it has accepted all the demands of farmers. 

“100% demands have been accepted by the government. The meeting, which was just under 3 hours, but we met the demands,” Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan said.

“Farmers had another demand where the definition of family and accepting the loan waiver claim for either wife or husband was in question and that is also sorted out,” he said.

 

Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said his government was "sensitive and positive" towards the demands of farmers and tribals.

Fadnavis was responding to a discussion in the Assembly, initiated by Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who lauded the farmers participating in the 'Kisan Long March' for their peaceful protest while demanding a complete loan waiver and compensation for hailstorm and pink bollworm pest attack on crops.

The Azad Maidan in South Mumbai turned into a sea of red this morning as thousands of farmers, carrying red flags, converged here after walking around 180 km from neighbouring Nashik district over the last six days.

The farmers planned to surround the Assembly complex to press for their demands of an unconditional loan waiver, and transfer of forest land to tribal farmers who have been tilling it for years.

The CPI(M)-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha is spearheading the protest.

The Congress, the Shiv Sena and other parties have also lent their support to the farmers stir. 

 

The march has been organised to protest the alleged failures of the BJP government on the farm front, including non-implementation of recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission and the Forest Rights Act.

The farmers have demanded a change in the plan to link rivers in Nashik, Thane and Palghar districts so as to ensure that tribal lands are not submerged and water from the scheme be made available to these areas and other drought-prone districts.

They are also protesting against the state government's land acquisition for projects such as high speed rail and super highways.

"We are demanding an increase in pension schemes for poor peasants and farm workers, compensation for losses due to pink bollworm and pest attacks and rehauling of the public distribution system," the march organisers had earlier said.

(With PTI inputs)

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