Thousands of cultivators, who had arrived from different parts of Maharashtra to protest against the Centre’s farm laws, left for their homes on Tuesday after an elderly woman agitator hoisted the national flag at the Azad Maidan in Mumbai.
According to All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) the flag hoisting was held at the ground in south Mumbai at around 9.30 am following which the protesters headed towards their native places.
The farmers held a rally at the Azad Maidan on Monday to express solidarity with peasants agitating near Delhi borders against the Centre’s three new farm laws. The framer’s rally was attended by several state leaders including NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, and Maharashtra Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat.
Reportedly, 15,000 farmers had arrived in the state capital for the rally.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a pro-farmer body, had given a nationwide call for a struggle from January 23 to 26, including rallies to Raj Bhavans (Governor Houses) in states.
Accordingly, the protesters in Mumbai took out a march towards the Raj Bhavan after the public meeting at Azad Maidan on Monday. However, police stopped the protesters mid-way.
A delegation of farmers was to meet and submit a memorandum to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
But, after they learned that the governor was in Goa on Monday, the farmers’ leaders accused Koshyari of not meeting them despite giving an appointment himself.
In its defenses, the Raj Bhavan said representatives of the Samyukta Shetkari Morcha were informed in advance that the governor would not be able to meet the delegation on Monday as he would be in Goa to address its Assembly.
NCP president Sharad Pawar was also lashed out at the Maharashtra Governor and stated that the state has never seen such a Governor before. He has the time to meet Bollywood celebrity Kangana Ranaut but not the farmers.
