Farmers’ group camps in Nashik

Thousands of farmers and adivasis affiliated to the Kisan Sabha have laid siege to Nashik City by camping in the heart of the city and blocking four major roads. An unofficial holiday was declared in many schools and offices while a major bus station was deserted on Wednesday.

The chief minister has invited a delegation to Mumbai for a meeting on Wednesday. “The CM spoke positively in an hour-long meeting and later we will announce our further strategy in Nashik,” stated Dr Ashok Dhavale, national joint secretary of Kisan Sabha, while speaking to The Asian Age.

The Left-leaning Kisan Sabha supported by CPM, CITU and other organisations had staged a massive state-level morcha and agitation in Nashik on Tuesday evening. The morcha began around 7 pm and was stopped at the Central Bus Stand (CBS) next to the Nashik Court and collector’s buildings.

Here the agitators sat down and began their agitation and also went to sleep on the crossroads. Some built tents, other found space in the CBS, garden and other lanes. Throughout the day the agitators and their leaders, including state politburo member Dr D. L. Karad sat in the sun and awaited the government’s decision on Wednesday.

The Left-leaning organisations are demanding remunerative prices for farm produce and farmland for adivasi community, which they have been tilling. Mr Karad said that they would not budge an inch from their indefinite agitation till their demands were met. The police too appeared to be reluctant to take stringent action against the adivasis.

CPM national general secretary MP Sitaram Yechury, Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha general secretary Hunnan Maula, senior journalist P. Sainath, veteran trade union leader Mr Karad and other leaders addressed the rally on Tuesday.