Maharashtra: Farmers to march from Akole to Loni in Ahmednagar district

The AIKS is being supported by the CITU, AIAWU, AIDWA, DYFI, SFI, and other like-minded mass organisations. The march will be taken to the Loni office of Revenue and Dairy Development Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. “If the demands are not met, an indefinite mahapadav will be conducted at Loni,” the organisers said.

“In the last two years, excessive and unseasonal rains destroyed crops in large parts of the state. The state government loudly declared that compensation would be given to farmers, but it has been given nowhere.

“Assurances were given time and again to vest forest land, temple land, inaam land, waqf land, pasture land, and land for housing to peasants and agricultural workers, many of whom are actually tilling that land for several generations. But instead of vesting land in their names, the police and forest departments were misused to beat up poor peasants and drive them out of their meagre land and houses. Land is being forcibly acquired for highways, corridors, ports, and airports, with very little compensation,” they added.

“During the Covid-19 pandemic, dairy farmers were forced to sell milk for just Rs 17 per litre. Now, just when they are trying to stand on their feet again, the BJP-led Centre has begun moves to import milk and dairy products, thus destroying their future once again. Prices of cotton, soybean, tur, gram, and other crops have collapsed,” an AIKS leader said justifying the proposed march.