3 minutes of readingJanuary 29, 2026 20:31 IST
The long march taken out by farmers under the banner of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) from Nashik to Mumbai was called off on Tuesday after the Maharashtra government assured them of time-bound discussions on their key demands, officials said.
The march, in which thousands of farmers participated, had reached Bhatsa Naka, on the outskirts of Bombayraising concerns that entering the city could disrupt daily activities.
Following negotiations with the government, the farmers agreed to back down after the state asked for three months to address the issues raised.
On Tuesday, a delegation of protesting farmers met the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his official residence, Varsha, where officials aware of the talks described the discussions as “positive.” The meeting was facilitated by senior ministers, including Girish Mahajan, and senior bureaucrats.
The farmers’ demands include effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act, utilization of water flowing to the sea for local regions and drought-prone parts of Maharashtra, and initiation of recruitment under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) to provide employment in tribal areas.
Later in the day, senior district and police officials, including Nashik district collector Ayush Prasad, additional collector Subhash Kekan and Thane superintendent of police DS Swami, met the farmers at Bhatsa Naka to convey the government’s stand and the assurances given during the meeting with the Chief Minister.
The state government made arrangements for the safe return of the protesters to their villages. According to officials, a series of meetings between Kisan Sabha representatives and the government will be held over the next three months to review progress on the commitments made.
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The march is seen as a continuation of earlier agitations by farmers in Nashik and adjoining districts, who have repeatedly flagged delays in the implementation of assurances given by successive governments, particularly on land rights and livelihood issues. Similar marches in the past had forced the state to enter negotiations after protesters covered long distances on foot to draw attention to agrarian difficulties.
Government officials said the administration intends to resolve the issues through dialogue, while farmer leaders maintained that they would closely monitor follow-up actions over the three-month period.