Mumbai, March 12: Amid the ongoing farmers' march in Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said that the state government is positive towards fulfilling the demands of the farmers. While speaking in the state assembly on Monday, Fadnavis said, "Since 1st day of Morcha, we tried to discuss issues with them. Girish Mahajan was in touch with them from day 1. But they were firm on taking out the march".

On 22 June 2017, the BJP-led government in Maharashtra announced its historic farm loan waiver scheme titled the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Shetkari Sanman Yojana. As per reports, the scheme was originally intended to benefit 89 lakh farmers. Fadnavis had estimated that the burden on the state exchequer on account of the scheme would be Rs 34,022 crore.

About 50,000 farmers and tribals associated with All Indian Kisan Sabha (AIKS) of the CPI (M) reached Mumbai on Monday. These farmers are protesting against the Fadnavis Government and their long pending demands. Complete loan waiver for the farmers and implementation of the Forest Rights Act are some of the important demands of the agitators.

To recall, thousands of protestors began their march on March 6 from Nashik and reached Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Monday. These farmers, who have been protesting for a week now are marching for their demands of unconditional loan waiver, and transfer of forest land to tribal farmers who have been tilling it for years. Reports state that farmers are reaching Mumbai in batches and marched to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly pressing for their demands. The farmers want a complete waiver of their loans and tribals want lands rights, which they are eligible under the Forest Rights Act.

The meeting with a delegation of farmers and all political parties begins at Vidhan Bhavan under the chairmanship of Maharastra CM Devendra Fadnavis, ANI reports. A 20-member delegation, led by AIKS president Ashok Dhawale, was invited for talks by the Chief Minister on Monday. Dhawale said the future course of action would be planned after meeting the CM. "We are hopeful of a positive outcome. If not, then the march will continue," he said.

On Monday, Congress president Rahul Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Devendra Fadnavis to shed their egos and accept the “just demands” of the thousands of farmers and tribals protesting in Mumbai. The mammoth farmers march to Mumbai is a “stunning example of people’s power”, Gandhi tweeted. “I appeal to PM Modi and the CM to not stand on ego and to accept their just demands,” Gandhi tweeted.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 12, 2018 04:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).