Kisan March: 35,000 Protesting Farmers Cross Thane, to Reach Mumbai by Evening; Traffic Advisory Issued
The Mumbai and Thane Traffic Police units have warned of potential clogging of roads on Sunday and Monday due to the influx of over 35,000 protesting farmers.
Mumbai, Mar 11: 35,000 protesting farmers under the red flag have crossed the Thane octroi naka as their march is headed towards Mumbai. The agitators are expected to assemble at Somaiya Ground in Mumbai's Sion region by today evening. The final leg of the protest will begin tomorrow, when the farmers will march for 20-km from the Somaiya Ground to the Vidhan Sabha or the state legislature.
The Mumbai Police is yet to take a call whether the farmers will be allowed to demonstrate outside the Vidhan Sabha, or they would be restricted at the Azad Maidan. The final call would be taken after determining the strength of protesters when they assemble today at the Somaiya Ground, said a senior police official.
While 25,000 farmers had begun the march from Nashik, 180-km away from Mumbai, on March 6, their numbers kept increasing enroute. By Monday morning, the protesters claim the numbers could swell above 40,000 as farmers from nearby Palghar and Konkan districts are also expected to join the agitation.
Apart from the farmers affiliated to the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), social activists and political cadres linked to the Aam Aadmi Party, Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena could also join the march in Mumbai.
"We will accept the support of everyone who comes forward and expresses solidarity with us," said AIKS state unit secretary Ajit Nawale, who is leading the march from Nashik.
Among the list of demands raised by the farmers include: implementation of Swaminathan Commission report -- which recommends increasing the minimum support price (MSP) on farm produce by 150 per cent, a complete loan-waiver for state-wide farmers, allocation of land to adivasi cultivators and increase in compensation to farmers affected by unseasonal rains and hailstorm.
Traffic advisory issued
The Mumbai and Thane Traffic Police units have warned of potential clogging of roads on Sunday and Monday due to the influx of over 35,000 protesting farmers.
Vehicular movement will be barred on Eastern Express Highway from 10 am to 9 pm on Sunday. Light vehicles will be allowed to ply at a restricted speed of 20km/hr via the southbound carriageway.
Light vehicle users have been recommended to use alternative routes - Sion-Panvel highway, Thane-Belapur road and LBS road.
"Eastern Express Highway, southbound from Anand Nagar Toll Plaza in Mulund to Sion's Somaiya Ground will remain closed for all types of vehicles," he traffic advisory said. However, a lane on southbound carriageway will be kept open for commutation at a restricted speed of 20-km/hr, it added.
Thane Traffic Police has barred the movement of heavy vehicles on NH3, connecting Thane-Bhiwandi-Shahapur to Nashik. Light vehicle users commuting from Bhiwandi to Thane have been instructed to take the Kasheli route via the Kapurbawdi circle. The restrictions will remain in place till March 13.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 11, 2018 10:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).