The protests by farmers against the central governments new farm laws at Delhis borders are set to gain strength with about 5,000 of their counterparts from over 20 districts of Maharashtra planning to join them and pledge support to the ongoing agitation. They will assemble at Nashiks Golf Club on December 21 and kick off a 1,200 km-long Vehicular March or Vehicle Jattha to Delhi. AIKS leaders announced their march to Delhi, at a press meet in Nashik on Friday Organised under the leadership of the All India Kisan Sabhas (AIKS) Maharashtra unit, the farmers are scheduled to join the ongoing protest at the Rajasthan-Haryana border in Shahjahanpur on the eve of Christmas (December 24). The march will start after a public meeting at Nashik to be held by the AIKS on December 21 followed by a demonstration at the Reliance Petrol Pump after leaving. Main demands "Thousands of people from Ozar, Pimpalgaon Baswant, Chandwad, Umrane, Malegaon, Dhule and Shirpur in Nashik and Dhule districts will join the march before entering Madhya Pradesh," said AIKS leaders at a press conference on Friday, where the decision was announced by AIKS National President Dr Ashok Dhawale, former State President J P Gavit, ex-MLA, State General Secretary Dr Ajit Nawale, State Joint Secretary Sunil Malusare and CITU State President Dr D L Karad. The leaders further said, "The farmers have three main demands – repeal the three anti-farmer and pro-corporate farm laws, withdraw the Electricity Amendment Bill and ensure legal measures to provide MSP at one-and-a-half times the cost of production and procurement at MSP rates." Speaking to mid-day, AIKS National President, Dr Dhawale said that there were two reasons behind the decision to conduct the march – to prove to the central government that it was a nationwide movement and not one in which farmers from only a few states were taking part, and to further intensify the protests. Vehicular march "We want to counter the government propaganda that this is just a struggle of Punjab and Haryana. It will be a slap on their (central governments) face when thousands of farmers from across Maharashtra will join the ongoing agitation at the borders. At least 5,000 farmers are expected to join from Nashik. We will be travelling in cars, trucks and tempos. There wont be any tractors and trolleys because then it will take a long time to complete the journey." AIKS State General Secretary, Dr Ajit Nawale said, "Despite the overwhelming support from other states across the country during the nationwide protests on December 3 and the Bharat Bandh on December 8, farmers from far-flung states have not yet been able to directly participate in the Delhi protests. Despite being far away from Delhi, Maharashtra is becoming the first state to reach the national capital in thousands." He further said, "As the Modi government is bringing in agricultural laws for the benefit of corporates, the battle is against the central government and its corporate partners, which is why there will be a strong protest at the Reliance Petrol Pump in Nashik before the convoy leaves for Delhi. The Kisan Sabha is appealing to all the farmers of Maharashtra to join the Delhi Chalo movement." Keep scrolling to read more news Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates. Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

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