Saurabh Mukherjee
Tens of thousands of farmers from Nashik and adjoining tribal regions set out on a massive protest march on Sunday, intensifying pressure on the Maharashtra government to honour long-standing commitments related to land, livelihood and employment.
The agitation, described by organisers as a decisive phase of a wider struggle, centres on the implementation of assurances under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), along with demands for completion of stalled irrigation projects and the filling of thousands of vacant posts in Zilla Parishad schools.
The ‘long march’, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), has also taken aim at what organisers call the corporate-friendly policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led governments at both the Centre and in Maharashtra.
Among the issues flagged are the smart electricity meter scheme, the alleged dilution of MGNREGA, land acquisition through government–corporate partnerships, and the implementation of the four labour codes.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Dr Ajit Nawale, Maharashtra state secretary and national joint secretary of the Kisan Sabha, said, “With over 50,000 farmers and protesters, we began our march from Nashik on Sunday and will reach Mumbai by February 2. If our demands are not met, we will gherao the Mantralaya as part of our protest.”
Nawale said farmers were also pressing for the diversion of rainwater from tribal regions to drought-prone areas such as Marathwada, while opposing any move to divert this water to Gujarat.
“After our agitations in the past the government had assured the implementation of our demands but done nothing. The BJP government is interested in safeguarding the interests of Adani and Ambais. The government has been handing over the entire state to these industrialists and the discontent among the people are against it,” he said.
Referring to earlier mobilisations, Nawale said similar protests were held in 2015 and 2019 when Devendra Fadnavis was the chief minister, and again in 2023 during the tenure of then CM Eknath Shinde.
“The government gives assurances during such agitations, but does not fulfil them,” he told PTI.
Former MLA J P Gavit said the protesters were fully prepared for a prolonged struggle.
“We will gherao Mantralaya and will not budge till our demands are met,” he said, adding that more farmers were expected to join the march along the way.
He also said the agitators were carrying ration and were determined to reach Mumbai.
The march took its first halt on barren land at Rahul Bahula in Nashik and is set to resume on Monday towards Shahapur. Thousands of protesters, including a large number of women—many of them barefoot—are marching with red flags and raising slogans demanding the fulfilment of long-pending demands.
The Nashik mobilisation follows a three-day march in Palghar last week, where district collectors issued time-bound written assurances for the implementation of 10 out of 12 demands.
While the Palghar march was called off, leaders announced a state-level agitation to ensure the remaining demands requiring state government intervention are addressed.
Addressing the gathering, leaders said the movement was part of a broader struggle to safeguard the rights of farmers, workers and tribal communities against policies that threaten livelihoods and land ownership.
Riding on the momentum of the Palghar agitation on January 21, where nearly 50,000 protesters compelled the administration to concede several demands, farmers from Nashik and surrounding tribal belts have now mobilised to push for concrete policy changes and the implementation of earlier commitments.
The march is expected to continue over the coming days, with organisers warning of intensified protests if the government fails to respond.
Senior CPI(M) and Kisan Sabha leaders, including Dr Ashok Dhawale, J P Gavit and Dr Ajit Nawale, along with leaders from CPI(M), Kisan Sabha and CITU, are leading the mobilisation.
The agitation, described by organisers as a decisive phase of a wider struggle, centres on the implementation of assurances under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), along with demands for completion of stalled irrigation projects and the filling of thousands of vacant posts in Zilla Parishad schools.
The ‘long march’, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), has also taken aim at what organisers call the corporate-friendly policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led governments at both the Centre and in Maharashtra.
Among the issues flagged are the smart electricity meter scheme, the alleged dilution of MGNREGA, land acquisition through government–corporate partnerships, and the implementation of the four labour codes.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Dr Ajit Nawale, Maharashtra state secretary and national joint secretary of the Kisan Sabha, said, “With over 50,000 farmers and protesters, we began our march from Nashik on Sunday and will reach Mumbai by February 2. If our demands are not met, we will gherao the Mantralaya as part of our protest.”
Nawale said farmers were also pressing for the diversion of rainwater from tribal regions to drought-prone areas such as Marathwada, while opposing any move to divert this water to Gujarat.
“After our agitations in the past the government had assured the implementation of our demands but done nothing. The BJP government is interested in safeguarding the interests of Adani and Ambais. The government has been handing over the entire state to these industrialists and the discontent among the people are against it,” he said.
Referring to earlier mobilisations, Nawale said similar protests were held in 2015 and 2019 when Devendra Fadnavis was the chief minister, and again in 2023 during the tenure of then CM Eknath Shinde.
“The government gives assurances during such agitations, but does not fulfil them,” he told PTI.
Former MLA J P Gavit said the protesters were fully prepared for a prolonged struggle.
“We will gherao Mantralaya and will not budge till our demands are met,” he said, adding that more farmers were expected to join the march along the way.
He also said the agitators were carrying ration and were determined to reach Mumbai.
The march took its first halt on barren land at Rahul Bahula in Nashik and is set to resume on Monday towards Shahapur. Thousands of protesters, including a large number of women—many of them barefoot—are marching with red flags and raising slogans demanding the fulfilment of long-pending demands.
The Nashik mobilisation follows a three-day march in Palghar last week, where district collectors issued time-bound written assurances for the implementation of 10 out of 12 demands.
While the Palghar march was called off, leaders announced a state-level agitation to ensure the remaining demands requiring state government intervention are addressed.
Addressing the gathering, leaders said the movement was part of a broader struggle to safeguard the rights of farmers, workers and tribal communities against policies that threaten livelihoods and land ownership.
Riding on the momentum of the Palghar agitation on January 21, where nearly 50,000 protesters compelled the administration to concede several demands, farmers from Nashik and surrounding tribal belts have now mobilised to push for concrete policy changes and the implementation of earlier commitments.
The march is expected to continue over the coming days, with organisers warning of intensified protests if the government fails to respond.
Senior CPI(M) and Kisan Sabha leaders, including Dr Ashok Dhawale, J P Gavit and Dr Ajit Nawale, along with leaders from CPI(M), Kisan Sabha and CITU, are leading the mobilisation.
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