Replying to the discussion in the Maharashtra Assembly on the farmers' march CM Devendra Fadnavis said the demands of protestors were very important.


"Around 90 to 95 per cent of the participants are poor tribals. They are fighting for forest land rights. They are landless and can't do farming. The government is sensitive and positive towards their demands," the chief minister said.


"A ministerial committee has been formed to discuss the demands with protesters. We will take a decision to resolve their issues in a time-bound manner," he said.


Fadnavis said his government was in touch with the march organisers since March 6.


"But they were adamant on the march. We tried to talk to them. All help was provided, like traffic management and deployment of medical vans," he said.


The chief minister said he has invited the march leaders for talks at the Vidhan Bhavan later today.


The committee formed to resolve the farmers' issues includes revenue minister Chandrakant Patil, water resources minister Girish Mahajan, co-operation minister Subhash Deshmukh, public undertakings minister Eknath Shinde and tribal welfare minister Vishnu Savra.


The march has been organised to protest the alleged failures of the BJP government on the farm front, including non-implementation of recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission and the Forest Rights Act. -- PTI