Farmers Booked, Taken into Custody Ahead of Kisan Long March in Maharashtra

Pune: Over 200 farmers who were reaching Nashik from Dhule to participate in the Farmers’ Long March have been taken into custody by the Dhule district police on February 19. And on February 15, leaders of the All India Kisan Sabha including Maharashtra general secretary, Ajit Navale, were booked for taking part in farmers’ meeting in Ahmednar despite having proper permission from the collector and police. The AIKS members have accused that the state is trying to suppress the long march but they will go ahead with it anyway.

The AIKS has given the call for the second Kisan Long March from Nashik to Mumbai from February 20 to 27 with a number of demands including minimum support price for farm produce, complete loan waiver, irrigation related issues, proper insurance scheme for farmers, hike in pension of old farmers and food security.

Also See: Looking Back at Historic Kisan March as Farmers Resolve to Take to Streets Again

Earlier in March 2018, over 50,000 farmers had participated in the first ever Kisan Long March held for seven days from Nashik to Mumbai. The march concluded with the Chief Minister assurance that all the demands of the farmers will be fulfilled. However, when the state failed to fulfil even a single demand after more than 11 months, the call for the second Kisan Long March was given by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI[M]) affiliated AIKS.

But a day before the march, on the morning of February 19, forces from the Pimpalner and Sakri police station in Dhule district took over 200 farmers of the Shetkari Satyashodhak Samiti, including its leaders Kishor Dhamale, Vanji Gaikvad, Subhash Kakuste into custody. These farmers were going to Nashik from Pimpalner to participate in the long march starting at 4 PM on February 20.

Devidas Dhumane, police inspector, Sakri police station, Dhule, confirmed, “We had taken over 200 farmers into custody, as they had gathered against the collector’s order banning assembly of more than 4-5 people.”

Farmers Targeted While Other Protesters Let Go

On February 15, Ahmednagar police lodged FIR against over 250 members of Kisan Sabha including its general secretary Dr Ajit Navale. One of the police officials told, “They are booked under Section 144 and 188 of IPC and relevant sections of Mumbai Police Act for unlawful assembly of people.”

Also Read: Maharashtra Govt Fails to Fulfil Promises, Farmer Organisations Call For ‘Jail Bharo’ Protest

Dr Ajit Navale told NewsClick, “We had given a letter to the collector’s office a day before the meeting was held. In that letter, we had told clearly that this will be a closed-door meeting and not a public sabha. We were not told at that time to not go ahead with the meeting. The next day, we had our meeting at the Sainik Kalyan Hall near Ahmednagar Collector’s office, where over 1,500 farmers were present. We discussed about how to reach Mumbai for the Long March. The police could have taken action during the meeting itself, if they had found any problem. After the meeting was over, we had given a letter of our demands to the Resident Collector peacefully.”

He added, “On the next day, police found that we had broken the rule and they lodged an FIR against over 250 members including myself. Our basic question was why did they not take any action when the meeting was going on in a hall which is within the range of a km from the collector’s office. The police had even visited the venue when the meeting was going on.”

He added, “On the same day, the Nationalist Congress Party had burnt an effigy and also held a strike in front of the collector’s office. There was another strike as well. If at all there was curfew, then why were they not booked? Why were they given permission for protesting openly when assembly of more than 3-4 people was banned, as we were told after the FIR was lodged.”

He further said, “Earlier we have held several meetings, protests and strikes in the front of the collector’s office in Ahmednagar, but this is the first time that charges were booked against us for protesting.”

Ashok Dhawale, president of the AIKS, said, “In order to stop the long march against the betrayal of the farmers by the BJP-led centre and state government, the government has taken the course of repression. Despite not a single breach of peace, Dr Navale has been booked. And we have come to know that the police may arrest him anytime. We condemn this act to crush democratic and peaceful satyagraha. AIKS warns that such repressive attempts by government will not succeed in stopping the march. Farmers’ issues can be solved by accepting their demands. Farmers will not rest until the demands taken the second-long march are solved.”

He said, “This time, the number of farmers will be double than that of first long march. The march will reach Mumbai on February 27, when the Budget session of Maharashtra Assembly will be going on.”

The first long march received tremendous response from all across the state and specially Mumbai. Residents of Mumbai had arranged food for farmers who came on foot to Mumbai. They were given chappals after photos of bleeding feet of farmers went viral. The farmers had even walked to the Assembly at night, so as not to disturb the students appearing for board examinations, a move which was applauded by the public.

See More: Farmers Paint the Streets Red as Kisan Long March Reaches Mumbai