Farmers and indigenous people take part in the All India Kisan Sabha long march from Nashik to Mumbai demanding land rights, farm assistance and implementation of forest rights on January 27, 2026 in Kasara, Maharashtra. Photo credit: PTI
The long march for land rights that started from Nashik to Mumbai on February 3 is likely to be called off on Wednesday (January 28, 2026) after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis gave an assurance to their delegation on Tuesday (January 27, 2026).
A delegation of the CPI(M) and the All India Kisan Sabha held a meeting with five ministers and several officials of the Maharashtra government at the State Secretariat on Tuesday (January 27, 2026) afternoon for several hours. Afterwards, the delegation met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his official residence ‘Varsha’.
The protesters demanded implementation of the Forest Rights Act, utilization of water flowing into the sea for local communities and drought-prone areas of Maharashtra, initiation of PESA recruitment for employment, education, agriculture among others.
Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Girish Mahajan and Nashik District Collector will address the protesters on Wednesday (January 28, 2026) to give them details of the steps the government will take to meet their demands.
“The negotiations have been successful. We have been assured that the government will consider all land claims under the Forest Rights Act. There will be a district review of claims in the next three months. Tribal farmers will get the benefits of all government schemes for crops on forest land. The government has also started the process of drafting legislation for the transfer of temple lands. legislator. on the protest march will take place after discussion with the protesters,” Ashok Dhawale, president of the All India Kisan Sabha and a member of the CPI(M) political bureau, told The Hindu.
The protesters started a long march from January 25. It will now stop at Bhatsa junction in Thane district till Wednesday (January 28, 2026).
“It is our endeavor to find a decent solution to their problems. Policy decisions have been taken earlier and implemented. Probably they were not implemented in a satisfactory manner or it led to more problems. We will solve them. Wherever there are tribals, farmers, the government will always be positive,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.
At the Secretariat, a 15-member Kisan Sabha delegation held a detailed discussion on various issues with Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike, Education Minister Dada Bhuse and Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, along with the Chief Secretary and officials from various departments. The meeting lasted over two hours.
“Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has given full assurance and has given a personal guarantee on the implementation of all the demands taken. He has also ensured continuous monitoring at the ministerial level to ensure that there are no lapses in implementation. It has been agreed to re-examine the forest rights claims of all claimants under the Forest Rights Act (FRA). Discrepancies between the amount of land held by a family under the FRA have increased and increased separation, resulting in injustice to thousands farmers, it was decided in the meeting to re-examine all FRA claims in each district,” said Mr. Dhawale. A committee under the chairmanship of Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) will be appointed in each district for this purpose.
The government said it would complete the exercise within three months. It has also constituted an implementation committee that includes ministers, the All India Kisan Sabha said. She said the government will also conduct E-Crop surveys that will enable government benefits for farmers. The government has also assured to construct dams at various places in Nashik to retain water for the benefit of tribals and farmers, the delegation said.
“The court ordered that the PESA (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act) posts be filled within the 50% limit and it was agreed that this would be implemented immediately and PESA recruitment would be done in tribal areas,” Mr. Dhawale said.
Published – 27 Jan 2026 22:40 IST
