AIKS calls for state-wide vehicle March on January 23; 20,000 farmers to march from Nashik to Mumbai

NASHIK: A grand state-wide vehicle march is being organized in Maharashtra on behalf of Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha to decisively widen the historic farmers’ agitation in Delhi demanding repeal of the anti-farmer agricultural laws by the central government and legal protection of agricultural commodities. As many as 20,000 farmers will be participating in the Vehicle march from Nahsik to Mumbai on January 23, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

The march will start in the afternoon from Golf Club Ground in Nashik with hundreds of tempos, pickup trucks and other vehicles.

Other demands of the rally are a withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020, repeal of the four Labour Codes, vesting of all forest lands, resumption of the implementation of the Mahatma Phule Loan Waiver scheme for farmers that was suspended due to the pandemic.

Along with Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha, the Center of Indian Unions (CITU), the All India Agricultural Workers’ Union (AIAWU), the All India Democratic Women’s Association, the Democratic Youth Federation of India, and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) will participate in this march with workers, agricultural laborers, women, youth, and students from all over Maharashtra.

AIKS President Ashok Dhawale said, “Departing from Nashik, the vehicle will stop at Ghatandevi on March 23 in the evening. On January 24, at 9 am, 20,000 farmers will leave Ghatandevi and descend towards Kasara Ghat and march towards Mumbai.”

Later, in response to the Sanyukta Shetkari Kamgar Morcha- a coalition of over 100 organizations in the state- called for a massive joint sit-in at Azad Maidan in Mumbai from January 24 to 26.

Then on January 25, AIKS National General Secretary Hannan Mollah, top leaders of all three parties in the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi and leaders of the Left and democratic parties will address a massive public meeting at 11 AM. The rally will march to Raj Bhawan to submit a memorandum to the Governor At 2 PM.

On Republic Day peasants and workers will hoist the national flag at Azad Maidan while singing the national anthem and pledge to make the farmers’ struggle victorious.