Maha: Thousands of farmers reach Mumbai for Jan 25 rally

Thousands of farmers from across Maharashtra reached Mumbai on Sunday evening to participate in a rally at state capital on Monday against Centre's three new farm laws.

Police have stepped up security at Azad Maidan, rally's venue in south Mumbai, and personnel of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) have also been deployed re.

Drones will also be used to keep an eye on event, a police official said.

All India Kisan Sabha's (AIKS) Maharashtra unit in a statement said around 15,000 farmers had set out for state capital from Nashik on Saturday in several tempos and or vehicles.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar and some or prominent leaders of ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in state will address rally on Monday, release said.

state Congress unit, which is an ally of MVA, has already extended its support to protest.

Farmers from various places had gared in Nashik and started ir journey towards Mumbai on Saturday. Many peasants also joined on way, AIKS said.

y halted at Ghatandevi near Igatpuri hill town for overnight stay.

On Sunday morning, a number of farmers marched down Kasara Ghat to head for Mumbai, while many left in vehicles.

Several women farmers took part in seven-km long march at Kasara Ghat, which started at 9 am and ended by around 11.30 am. Later, y continued ir forward journey in vehicles.

Kasara Ghat march and vehicle convoy was led by AIKS national president Ashok Dhawale, state president Kisan Gujar and its state general secretary Ajit Nawale.

On way, hundreds of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)-affiliated factory workers from Igatpuri and Shahapur tehsils welcomed farmers by showering flowers. At Kalyan-Bhiwandi crossroad, farmers were welcomed and provided food packets.

yenteredMumbai from Mulund check-naka, entry point to state capital from neighbouring Thane, and were welcomed at Kannamwar Nagar in Vikhroli by hundreds of workers of Left parties.

farmers n proceeded towards Azad Maidan, where joint sit-in protest by Samyukta Shetkari Kamgar Morcha (SSKM) began this morning, and will continue till Republic Day.

" rally is being held to support and expand two-month-long farmers' struggle in Delhi for a repeal of three farm laws and for a central law to guarantee a remunerative Minimum Support Price (MSP) and procurement all over country," AIKS statement said.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a pro-farmer body, has given a nationwide call for a struggle from January 23 to 26, including rallies to Raj Bhavans (goverr houses) in states.

Accordingly, over 100 organisations came toger and formed Samyukta Shetkari Kamgar Morcha (SSKM), Maharashtra, in a meeting held in Mumbai on January 12.

On January 25, re will be a public meeting at 11 am, release said.

Sharad Pawar, who was in Ahmednagar this morning, said he would take part in rally on Monday.

Besides Pawar, state Congress president and revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat, and Shiv Sena leader and state tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray will also address rally, AIKS statement said.

Later, protesters will march to Raj Bhavan and submit a memorandum to Goverr B S Koshyari.

main demands of protesters include repeal of three "anti-farmer" laws, and a central law guaranteeing remunerative MSP and procurement, release said.

protesters have also decided to hoist national flag at Azad Maidan on occasion of Republic day on January 26, and take a pledge to make struggle of peasants and workers successful, it added.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up at venue ahead of rally, a police official said.

Apart from personnel of Mumbai Police, nine platoons of SRPF are being deployed at Azad Maidan, he said, adding that drones will also be used.

Additional police force, including 100 officers and 500 constables, will also be deployed at venue, he added.

Enacted in September last year, three laws have been projected by Centre as major reforms in agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell ir produce anywhere in country.

However, protesting farmers have expressed ir apprehension that new laws would pave way for eliminating safety cushion of MSP and do away with 'mandi' (wholesale market) system, leaving m at mercy of big corporates.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at several border points of Delhi, demanding a repeal of three farm laws.

Multiple rounds of talks between government and farmer unions have failed to break impasse so far, while Supreme Court has appointed a panel for resolution of issue.