At the state-wide call of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) Maharashtra
State Council, thousands of peasants came on to the streets in several
districts on June 1, just two days after the newly elected BJP regime at the
Centre took office. The state-wide protests flayed the State Government of the
BJP-Shiv Sena for its betrayal of promises given to farmers on issues of
drought relief, loan waiver, fair prices, land rights, ration, pension and
other local issues. June 1 marked the second anniversary of the historic 11-day
state-wide farmers strike in Maharashtra that began on June 1, 2017.
The largest mobilisation of 10,000 peasants was in 8 tehsils of
Thane-Palghar districts, followed by impressive rallies at Akole in Ahmednagar
district, Kinwat in Nanded district, Solapur and several other centres in the
state. Demonstrations and dharnas took place in all the 8 districts of
Marathwada region, which is the worst affected by drought. Memorandums were
given to govt officials, who were forced to concede several local demands.
