The Shiv Sena has reportedly extended support to the farmers' long march against the BJP government.

Ajit Nawale of the All India Kisan Sabha, which has organised the march asserted that senior Sena leader and PWD Minister Eknath Shinde met protesting long march leaders when it entered Thane. He stated, "Shinde welcomed the protestors in Thane district and extended support to the demands of the farmers. He said he was conveying the message of Sena president Uddhav Thackeray. Similarly, Abhijit Jadhav, an emissary of MNS chief Raj Thackeray, also met us and got me in touch with the MNS chief over phone. The MNS too has extended support to our demands."

He further added that the march has been organised to protest the failures of the state BJP government regarding issues like farm loan waivers, remunerative prices for produce, non-implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission as well as the Forest Rights Act.

The organisers said that the protesting farmers have demanded a change in the plan to link rivers in Nashik, Thane and Palghar so as to ensure that tribal lands are not submerged and water from the scheme be made available to these areas and in drought-prone districts as well.

Nawale said, “We are demanding an increase in pension schemes for poor peasants and farm workers, compensation for losses due to bollworm and pest attacks and rehauling of the public distribution system.”

The march commenced from Nashik on March 6 will culminate in Mumbai on Monday where protestors plan to reportedly ‘gherao’ the Vidhan Bhavan where the Budget session of the state legislature is underway.