Earlier, 50,000 Maharashtra Farmers Protested, Marched Towards Mumbai to Meet CM; Protest Now on Halt

A massive farmers’ protest in Maharashtra, involving nearly 50,000 people, has been put on hold after a delegation was invited to Mumbai for talks with ministers and senior officials on January 27. At the heart of the protest is the high rate of rejection of land ownership claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and other issues related to its implementation.

The protest was temporarily halted after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and government officials called AIKS leader Dr. Ashok Dhawale for discussions. Speaking to THE NEWS MAN on Monday morning, Dr. Dhawale said, “The protest has been halted as the Chief Minister has called us to discuss our problems and demands.”

He further added that “The meeting is scheduled to take place between 3 pm and 4 pm, and that the Chief Minister has assured him that efforts will be made to fulfil the protesters’ demands”.

The march began on Sunday, January 25, with thousands of tribal people joining the protest and moving towards Mumbai. Protesters had earlier refused to halt the march without meeting Chief Minister Fadnavis and receiving concrete assurances regarding their land rights.

So far, the marchers have covered over 80 kilometres. On Republic Day, January 26, 2026, they celebrated the occasion on the Nashik–Mumbai highway, where the national flag was ceremoniously hoisted on the leading truck of the march.

The protesters’ demands include issues related to land rights, water supply, education, and recruitment. Central to the agitation is the large-scale rejection of land claims filed under the Forest Rights Act and concerns over lapses in its implementation.