Mumbai, Mar 12: Over 35,000 farmers marching under the red flag reached Mumbai on Sunday, six days after they commenced the long march from Nashik. Despite the state government initiating backchannel talks to thwart the potential consequences of their agitation tomorrow, the farmers are firm to gherao the state assembly today.

The Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha (ABKS), affiliated to the Left Front, said the farmers would be demonstrating outside the Vidhan Sabha irrespective of the government reaching out to them.

"Believing the government last year was a mistake. Now, we will not relent until our demands are fulfilled," said ABKS' state unit secretary Ajit Nawale.

The statement issued by the Central Kisan Committee of ABKS said their agitation would turn into "an indefinite dharna" if the government fails to address their concerns.

"The long march will turn into an indefinite sit-in dharna in front of the Mantralay from March 12 and will continue till all the demands are met with," said the statement issued on Sunday.

The Mumbai Police on Twitter said that traffic movement will be like any other day and there will no diversions in light of the long march. Here is the tweet:

On Sunday, Education Minister Vinod Tawde tweeted advising students appearing for SSC exams to reach their respective centers beforehand to avoid any delays caused due to long march.

While listing out their demands, ABKS said a "complete loan-waiver" will be their uncompromising condition to roll-back the agitation, along with the implementation of Swaminathan Commission report -- which would raise the minimum support price (MSP) on farm produce by 150 percent.

"Fair compensation" to farmers affected by hailstorm and unseasonal rains and allocation of land to adivasi cultivators also tops their list of demands, Nawale told reporters.

While the Devendra Fadnavis government has assured a compensation of Rs 6,800-13,500 per acre to farmers whose crops have been damaged in the hailstorm and rainfall last month, the ABKS called it "inadequate", seeking Rs 40,000 per acre of the damaged crop as compensation.

On Saturday, when 35,000 farmers had assembled at Padgha near Bhiwandi, they were reportedly sent feelers by the government to hold negotiations. Nawale, however, clarified saying, "The ABKS will hold direct negotiations only with the Chief Minister".

Shiv Sena youth-wing leader Aaditya Thackeray met the protesting farmers in Mumbai. While addressing the gathering, the Thackeray scion said his party "will strongly back the agitation" in the state capital.

"Farmers are not politicians. If they have no other option but to hit the roads, then the government needs to take immediate measures to address their plight," said Aaditya, the son of Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.

Apart from Sena, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have also extended support to the kisan march.

The farmers would be camping overnight at Sion's Somaiya Ground, before beginning the final leg of their march to the vidhan sabha or the state legislature.

As per the plan charted out by the AKBS, the protesters would gherao the state legislature, blocking access to the building. The move is expected to cause massive embarrassment to the BJP-led government, which was scheduled to hold a discussion on the State Budget 2018-19 tabled in the past week.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 11, 2018 06:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).