Thane, March 16 (IANS) The Maharashtra government has accepted almost all the demands of farmers, said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday evening, in what is being perceived as a major victory for the peasants. Following the announcement, the farmers' Nashik-Mumbai "long march" was halted en route at Vashind in Thane.
Shinde said, "We had very fruitful negotiations on all issues and most have been resolved. I shall make a statement in the legislature tomorrow morning," after emerging from a marathon meeting with over a dozen leaders of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS).
Vinod Nikole, a CPI-M MLA, confirmed the developments from the AIKS side and said that most issues pertaining to the jurisdiction of the state have been sorted out while those in the Centre's ambit have yet to be resolved. "Accordingly, we have decided to halt the 'long march' at Vashind. The agitation is not called off till the government issues the relevant orders right up to the district level to implement our demands within the next two days," Nikole told media persons.
