A State-level rally of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) was held at Azad Maidan here on Tuesday (July 21, 2026), with thousands of farmers from across Maharashtra participating. The rally was followed by a meeting between an AIKS delegation and State Ministers, where the farmers’ demands were discussed.The delegation met Agriculture Minister Dattatreya Bharne and Revenue Minister Chandrakant Bavanakule. According to Dr. Ajit Nawale, State secretary of AIKS, the discussions with the Ministers yielded positive results. The talks focused on issues of regular loan defaulters, crop insurance, and land rights on Devasthan, Gairan, and house premises lands.The rally was led by national president Dr. Ashok Dhawale, former State president and ex-MLA J.P. Gavit, State secretary Dr. Ajit Nawale, State president Umesh Deshmukh, and MLA Vinod Nikole. Journalist P. Sainath, founder-editor of the People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI), provided guidance to the gathering.The primary demands presented during the rally included an increase in incentive subsidies for regular loan defaulters, the transfer of land ownership to farmers and labourers, and the restoration of crop insurance triggers to previous levels. The farmers also demanded immediate compensation for crop damage from heavy rains and a halt to the termination of PESA employees.In the meeting with Minister Bharne, the delegation discussed provisions for regular loan defaulters. With Minister Bavanakule, the delegation held detailed discussions on matters concerning land rights and revenue issues. The delegation also expressed solidarity with the student-youth movement in Delhi and condemned the action taken by the Union government against it.The rally had been organised to draw the State government’s attention to the farmers’ issues. Preparations for the rally began overnight, with farmers gathering at the venue from across the state. Following the public gathering, the AIKS delegation proceeded to the Mantralaya to submit their memorandum. Published - July 22, 2026 12:45 pm IST